BV  3400  . G8  1923 

Gulick,  Sidney  Lewis,  1860- 

The  winning  of  the  Far  East 


t 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


SIDNEY  L.  GULICK 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2019  with  funding  from 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


https  ://arch  i  ve.  org/detai  Is/wi  n  n  i  ngoffareastOOg  u  I  i 


THE  WINNING  OFUfftE  1924  s 

FAR  EAST 

A  Study  of  the  Christian  Movement 
in  China,  Korea  and  Japan 


BY 

SIDNEY  L.  GULICK 

Secretary  of  the  Commission  on  International  Justice  and  Good¬ 
will,  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America. 
Secretary  on  Oriental  Relations  of  the  American 
Council  of  the  World  Alliance  for  International 
Friendship  through  the  Churches 


HODDER  &  STOUGHTON 
LIMITED  :  :  LONDON 


COPYRIGHT,  1923, 

BY  GEORGE  H.  DORAN  COMPANY 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 
- A - 

PRINTED  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA 


FOREWORD 


ONE  of  the  most  notable  and  perhaps  most  un¬ 
observed  of  recent  influences  for  international 
goodwill  and  friendship  is  that  of  the  international 
relations  which  are  developing  between  bodies  of 
Christian  people  in  the  various  nations.  Among  the 
earliest  of  these  approaches  by  the  Federal  Council 
of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America  was  to  the 
Churches  and  also  to  the  peoples  of  the  Far  East,  which 
had  its  impulse  in  the  desire  to  bring  the  Christian 
spirit  to  bear  upon  the  delicate  and  difficult  problems 
arising  between  the  Far  Eastern  nations  and  our 
own. 

The  Commission  on  Relations  with  the  Orient,  it  is 
to  be  noted,  is  quite  distinct  from  the  interests  fur¬ 
thered  by  the  Foreign  Mission  Boards;  first  in  the 
fact  that  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  developing  in¬ 
timacy  of  relationship  between  the  organized  native 
church  bodies  and  also  for  the  larger  purpose  of  deepen¬ 
ing  acquaintanceship  between  the  peoples  of  the  Orient 
and  the  Occident  without  special  reference  to  their 
religious  institutions. 

This  development  of  friendly  relationship  between 
peoples,  like  all  the  great  movements,  can  only  be 
secured  through  personal  contacts  and  living  voices 
and  the  first  commission  sent  forth  by  the  Federal 
Council  was  when  Dean  Shailer  Mathews,  the  Presi¬ 
dent  of  the  Council,  and  Dr.  Gulick  went  to  Japan  in 


FOREWORD 


vi 

1915,  at  a  time  when  the  political  questions  between 
the  two  nations  greatly  needed  the  influence  of  the 
Christian  spirit. 

More  recently  the  friendly  contacts  established  and 
the  friendly  spirit  created  by  the  Federal  Council  at 
the  Washington  Conference  on  Limitation  of  Arm¬ 
ament,  especially  in  the  matter  of  relationship  with 

• 

China  and  Japan,  deepened  this  interest  and  led  the 
Federal  Council  to  release  Dr.  Gulick  for  a  year  from 
his  duties  here  in  order  that,  through  personal  con¬ 
ference,  he  might  first  of  all  again  carry  messages  of 
goodwill  to  those  two  nations  of  the  Far  East  and 
bring  back  to  us  information  which  would  guide  our 
Churches  in  their  further  service. 

The  significance  of  his  mission  is  revealed  in  this 
volume  which  constitutes  his  report,  but  is  more 
openly  imparted  by  the  many  letters  which  have  come 
from  representative  men  in  China  and  Japan,  bearing 
witness  to  the  happy  influence  of  his  mission  in  culti¬ 
vating  warmer  relationships  not  only  between  the 
religious  bodies  in  these  countries,  but  between  people 
of  goodwill  in  these  great  nations  and  our  own. 

Let  us  hope  that  the  warm  friendliness  evinced  in 
these  exchanges  may  speedily  become  the  determining 
factor  in  relationships  between  the  nations,,  their  people 
and  their  governments. 

Charles  S.  Macfarland, 

General  Secretary . 


AUTHOR’S  FOREWORD 


THE  nations  of  the  Far  East  are  passing  through 
experiences  of  great  significance  to  the  whole 
world  as  well  as  to  themselves.  Problems  of  a  grave 
character  are  well  to  the  fore  in  each  country — prob¬ 
lems  of  international  relations  and  also  of  internal 
development.  The  Far  East  is  seething  with  the  fer¬ 
ment  of  new  life.  What  is  to  come  even  a  few  months 
ahead  none  can  forecast;  many  are  looking  for  grave 
disasters,  not  only  in  China  but  also  in  Japan.  The 
industrial,  intellectual  and  political  revolutions  in 
China;  the  spread  throughout  Asia  of  communistic 
ideas  from  Russia;  the  consciousness  of  rights  by  the 
labor  classes;  the  “proletarian  uprising”;  suspicion  of 
each  other  and  of  the  Occident  by  China,  Japan  and 
Korea,  and  nationalistic  ambitions  and  national  self- 
consciousness  are  sweeping  through  these  lands.  The 
animosity  of  China  toward  Japan  is  pronounced, 
though  waning.  Japan  anxiously  wonders  what  China 
is  to  become  during  the  coming  decade.  Is  Russia  to  be 
a  neighborly  neighbor  or  a  growing  menace?  Rest¬ 
lessness  and  discontent  are  rife  throughout  the  Far 
East. 

No  thoughtful  traveler  can  visit  these  countries  and 
escape  the  contagion  of  these  soul-stirring  problems. 
They  have  most  intimate  relations  with  the  problem 
of  world  wars  and  world  peace;  with  the  Christian 
program  for  a  Warless  World;  and  also  with  the 


AUTHOR’S  FOREWORD 


•  •  • 
viu 

Christian  movement  in  these  lands.  The  writer  makes 
no  attempt  to  deal  in  an  adequate  way  with  all  or 
even  any  of  these  vitally  important  matters.  For  such 
a  treatment  several  volumes  would  hardly  suffice.  But 
the  statement  in  the  following  pages  of  his  experiences 
during  the  past  year  would  be  insipid  and  useless  indeed 
did  it  not  in  brief  outline,  at  least,  present  not  only 
how  he  conveyed  the  Federal  Council’s  Message  to  the 
Churches  of  the  Far  East,  but  also  some  of  the  more 
outstanding  facts  and  considerations  forced  upon  his 
attention  as  for  nearly  nine  months  he  passed  back 
and  forth  among  the  peoples  of  these  lands  and  talked 
with  hundreds  of  the  best  informed  men  and  women, 
consecrated  workers — many  of  them  actors — in  the 
stirring  drama  that  is  there  being  enacted.  The  Far 
East  is  fairly  alive  with  vitalizing  forces  and  signifi¬ 
cant  movements. 

The  writer’s  indebtedness  to  the  many  leaders  and 
workers  whom  he  met  in  the  Far  East  is  far  more  than 
he  can  easily  express.  His  gratitude  to  them  all  is  deep 
and  heartfelt. 

Acknowledgment  of  important  assistance  in  prepar¬ 
ing  this  volume  is  also  due  to  many  who  have  read  the 
manuscript  in  whole  or  in  part  and  for  highly  valued 
suggestions.  Especial  mention  should  be  made  of  the 
help  rendered  by  Dr.  Arthur  J.  Brown,  Dr.  William  I. 
Haven,  Dr.  Willard  D.  Lyon,  Mr.  Galen  M.  Fisher,  and 
Mr.  Fennell  P.  Turner. 

In  sending  forth  this  volume,  the  writer’s  one  hope 
and  prayer  is  that  it  may  be  of  some  service  in  pro¬ 
moting  understanding  and  goodwill  between  the  peoples 
of  the  north  Pacific  and  in  bringing  a  little  nearer  the 
benign  reign  of  the  Prince  of  Peace. 


CONTENTS 


FAGB 

foreword  by  Rev.  Charles  S.  Macfarland,  D.D.  v 
the  author’s  foreword . vii 

CHAPTER 

I!  THE  GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN 

JAPAN:  AN  INTERPRETATION  ...  1 3 

II :  THE  SPECIAL  MISSION  TO  THE  FAR  EAST.  52 

THE  MESSAGE . 55 

III!  DELIVERING  THE  MESSAGE  IN  THE  PHIL¬ 
IPPINE  ISLANDS,  KOREA  AND  CHINA  .  60 

IV I  DELIVERING  THE  MESSAGE  IN  JAPAN  .  67 

VI  SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  THE  PHIL¬ 
IPPINE  ISLANDS . 76 

VI :  SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  KOREA  .  .  80 

VII :  SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  CHINA  .  91 

VIII I  SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  JAPAN  .  Il6 

IX  I  FINAL  IMPRESSIONS  AND  CONVICTIONS  .  I3I 

APPENDIX 

i:  THE  MISSION  TO  THE  FAR  EAST  .  .  .  I47 

II  *.  THE  ITINERARY  IN  THE  FAR  EAST  .  .  1 49 

III!  LEADERS  MET  IN  THE  FAR  EAST  .  .  .153 

IV :  RESPONSES  FROM  THE  FAR  EAST  .  .  .  1 63 

V:  THE  AMERICAN  PRESS  AND  THE  JAPA¬ 
NESE  DISASTER .  .  171 


IX 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


* 


. 


* 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE 

FAR  EAST 


Chapter  I 

THE  GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN 
JAPAN:  AN  INTERPRETATION 

i 

THE  crowded  steamer-train  bearing  the  writer 
left  Tokyo  station  at  9:30  a.m.  June  6,  1923. 
At  noon  he  sailed  from  Yokohama  on  the  magnificent 
ocean  liner  of  the  Toyo  Kisen  Kaisha.  During  those 
interesting  hours  he  could  not  but  be  deeply  impressed 
by  the  extraordinary  industrial  and  financial  develop¬ 
ment  that  has  taken  place  in  Japan  since  his  first  arrival 
thirty-five  years  ago. 

The  dock  was  crowded  with  hundreds  of  Japanese 
men  and  women  and  a  few  foreigners,  bidding  fare¬ 
well  to  departing  friends  and  kindred.  Hundreds  of 
ribbons  of  brightly  colored  paper  were  held  by  hands 
on  shore  and  by  hands  on  the  three  decks,  for  a  few 
moments  connecting  links  between  the  travelers  and 
their  loved  ones.  As  the  great  vessel  slowly  backed 
away  from  the  wharf  these  connecting  links  snapped, 
one  by  one,  until  all  were  trailing  in  the  sea. 

That  colorful  scene,  with  all  that  had  preceded  it 
during  the  morning  and  the  days  before,  left  a  deep 

13 


14 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


impression,  never  to  be  forgotten,  of  that  virile,  hope¬ 
ful,  happy,  and  enterprising  people  that  so  rapidly  and 
successfully  have  entered  into  the  throbbing  life  of  the 
world. 

It  is  hard  to  believe  that  those  two  cities  have  been 
largely  destroyed.  The  news  that  came  over  the  ocean 
during  the  first  few  days  of  September  was  no  doubt 
exaggerated.  Yet  the  more  careful  accounts  that  came 
later,  based  on  official  studies  and  reports,  disclose 
a  disaster  of  the  first  magnitude. 

Never  in  recorded  history  have  the  loss  of  life  and 
the  destruction  of  property  from  earthquake  and  fire 
been  equal  to  the  terrible  experience  through  which 
central  Japan  has  just  gone. 

The  news  of  this  calamity  came  to  America  while 
the  writer  was  preparing  the  following  chapters  telling 
of  his  visit  to  the  Far  East.  It  hardly  seemed  right, 
however,  to  complete  the  book  without  referring 
to  this  important  event;  for  this  experience  cannot 
fail  to  have  prolonged  consequences  not  only  to  Japan 
herself,  to  her  mental  and  moral  life,  but  also  to  her 
relation  with  other  lands.  The  earthquake  and  the 
still  more  terrible  fire  that  followed,  constitute  an 
epoch  in  the  life  of  the  people  that  will  never  be  for¬ 
gotten.  In  a  few  years  a  new  Japan  will  stand  before 
our  eyes,  giving  new  evidence  of  the  mental  and  moral 
virility  of  that  interesting  people  and  nation  of  the  Far 
East. 


ii 

The  outstanding  facts  seem  to  be  these : 

.Without  the  slightest  warning,  on  Saturday,  Sep- 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  15 

tember  ist,  just  before  noon,  the  solid  earth  began  to 
jump  and  rock,  to  heave  and  crack.  A  large  majority 
of  Japanese  buildings  on  the  level  areas  .of  Tokyo 
and  Yokohama  were  completely  demolished  and  fires 
immediately  started  in  the  ruins.  How  many  persons 
were  killed  outright  in  the  crashing  buildings  will  never 
be  known.  It  is  astonishing  how  many  were  not  killed 
and,  in  spite  of  injuries  more  or  less  severe,  were  able 
to  crawl  out ;  the  number  of  those  more  or  less  seriously 
injured  or  burned  has  been  roughly  estimated  at  about 
1,500,000.  But  scores  of  thousands  were  inextricably 
caught  in  the  ruins  who  might  have  been  saved  but 
for  the  terrible  conflagration  that  speedily  swept  the 
devastated  areas.  Thousands  who  fled  to  open  spaces 
were  caught  between  the  raging  areas  and  burned  to 
death.  A  statement  apparently  made  on  authority  de¬ 
clares  that  ninety  per  cent  of  the  dead  perished  in  the 
flames. 

The  universal  use  of  electric  wires  for  lighting  and 
power  and  the  wide  use  of  gas  for  light  and  fuel 
accounts  for  the  speed  with  which  the  fires  started 
and  for  the  vigor  with  which  they  raged.  The  official 
figures  for  Tokyo  report  134  different  places  where 
fires  started  of  which  six  were  stated  to  be  incen¬ 
diary.  The  breaking  of  all  water  mains  made  it  im¬ 
possible  to  fight  the  fires. 

By  October  first  the  number  of  the  dead  that  had 
actually  been  counted  was  103,000;  but  those  recorded 
as  missing  numbered  235,000,  of  whom  no  doubt  a 
large  majority  were  among  the  dead.  The  reason  for 
so  much  uncertainty  concerning  the  number  of  deaths 
is  not  only  because  so  many  were  completely  consumed 


. 

I 


1 


16 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


by  the  flames  but  also  because  tens  of  thousands  took 
refuge  in  canals  and  rivers,  where  they  either  drowned 
or  were  burned  to  death  and  were  then  swept  out  to 
sea.  Statements  concerning  the  number  of  injured 
vary  greatly,  from  125,000  to  450,000.  The  home¬ 
less  in  Tokyo  were  reckoned  at  a  million. 

The  center  of  the  earthquake  was  somewhat  west 
of  Yokohama.  Witnesses  in  both  Yokohama  and 
Tokyo  testify  that  they  were  repeatedly  thrown  to  the 
ground  as  they  tried  to  walk.  The  area  seriously 
affected  ranged  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  miles  on 
either  side' of  these  cities,  covering  thus  between  ten 
and  fifteen  thousand  square  miles.  By  the  evening  of 
September  8th  no  fewer  than  1,319  shocks  were  re¬ 
corded,  not  including  the  slight  tremors  perceptible  only 
by  seismographs. 

This  region  constitutes  the  most  heavily  populated 
section  of  Japan,  save  one,  the  Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto 
region.  The  population  affected  is  estimated  at  about 
7,000,000,  which  includes  Tokyo,  the  National  Capi¬ 
tal,  with  2,150,000,  and  Yokohama,  Japan’s  most  im¬ 
portant  port,  with  450,000. 

More  complete  accounts  show  that  those  sections 
of  Tokyo  that  were  built  on  hilly  ground  suffered  less 
than  those  that  occupied  the  level  areas.  An  earth¬ 
quake,  it  seems,  shakes  the  solid  rock  less  seriously 
than  alluvial  soil:  “made  land”  is  especially  bad,  for 
it  quivers  and  billows  like  shaken  jelly. 

On  account  of  Tokyo’s  hills  and  large  open  spaces 
in  the  suburbs  the  city  was  not  entirely  destroyed,  either 
by  the  earthquake  or  by  the  fire;  estimates  of  buildings 
still  standing  range  from  25%  to  40%,  but  all  have 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  17 


suffered  more  or  less  damage  and  many  of  these  may 
be  unsafe  for  continuous  use. 

Yokohama  seems  to  have  been  more  completely  de¬ 
stroyed.  Accounts  as  to  conditions  in  surrounding 
districts,  in  towns  and  villages,  are  meager.  As,  how¬ 
ever,  the  houses  in  the  villages  are  as  a  rule  but  one 
story  high  and  as  many  of  these  have  roofs  thatched 
with  straw,  we  may  infer  that  the  destruction  of  houses 
was  less  severe  than  in  the  great  cities  and  closely  built 
towns.  The  loss  of  life  also  in  the  towns  and  vil¬ 
lages  was  doubtless  less  serious  in  proportion  to  the 
population  than  in  the  cities.  This,  partly  because 
the  buildings  being  smaller  would  not  fall  quite  so 
quickly  and  partly  because  escape  from  the  houses 
and  into  open  ground  would  be  fairly  easy.  Serious 
fires,  too,  would  not  be  so  inescapable  and  deadly. 

nr 

The  extent  of  the  physical  damage  outside  of  the 
houses  destroyed  was  of  course  enormous.  Railway 
lines,  bridges,  and  embankments  suffered  severely;  the 
wharves  and  port  facilities  of  both  the  large  cities  were 
ruined.  Enormous  expenditures  will  be  needed  to  re¬ 
store  them.  River  embankments  were  shattered  in 
many  places. 

Estimates  of  the  losses  have  been  suggested  running 
up  to  four  or  even  five  billion  dollars.  The  most  care¬ 
ful  estimate  that  has  come  to  the  writer's  attention  is 
that  made  by  the  financial  experts  connected  with  the 
Japanese  Commission  having  offices  in  New  York  City. 
A  statement  was  given  out  by  them  about  the  middle 
of  September  enumerating  with  much  detail  the  total 


18 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


wealth  of  Japan  and  also  of  the  Prefectures  affected. 
According  to  these  figures  the  wealth  of  Japan  in  1921 
was  approximately  $49,400,000,000  and  of  the  four 
affected  Prefectures,  $7,050,000,000.  The  physical 
damage  is  estimated  by  these  Japanese  experts  at  about 
$930,000,000. 

An  official  dispatch  from  Tokyo  to  the  Japanese 
Embassy  at  Washington  dated  October  1st  stated  that 
the  number  of  houses  destroyed  was  534,000  and  the 
total  property  damage  was  estimated  to  be  from  one 
and  a  quarter  to  two  and  a  half  billion  dollars. 

In  this  connection  interesting  figures  were  given  con¬ 
cerning  the  increase  in  the  wealth  of  Japan  during 
recent  years.  The  following  table  gives  the  estimated 
wealth  at  the  dates  mentioned: 


1905  .  $11,250,000,000 

1910  .  14,700,000,000 

1913  .  16,022,000,000 

1919  .  43,038,000,000 

1921  .  49,423,000,000 


In  order  to  give  some  indication  of  Japan’s  power 
of  recovery  the  financial  experts  stated  that  the  Gov¬ 
ernment’s  debts  (1923)  amount  to  a  total  of  $1,913,- 
233,584.  Of  this  sum  the  internal  debt  is  $1,252,921,- 
175  and  the  foreign  debt  $660,312,409.  Of  the  total 
debt,  $1,185,087,210  was  incurred  for  investment  in 
productive  enterprises,  the  remainder  having  been  in¬ 
curred  chiefly  at  the  time  of  the  Russo-Japanese  War. 

It  is  also  interesting  to  note  that  in  1919  investments 
of  Japanese  abroad  exceeded  that  of  foreigners  in  Japan 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  19 


by  about  $178,000,000.  Another  interesting  asset  is 
given  as  “surplus'’  of  Government  income  over  ex¬ 
penses,  which,  accumulating  since  1883,  now  amounts 
to  $320,342,687.  In  addition  to  these  sums  the  Gov¬ 
ernment  has  specie,  held  abroad  and  in  the  Bank  of 
Japan,  to  the  amount  of  $840,000,000.  Manifestly  the 
earthquake  and  fire,  though  terrible  and  appalling,  finds 
Japan  in  a  position  far  from  hopeless. 

Of  the  fifty  bank  buildings  in  Tokyo,  forty-five 
suffered  wreckage  and  fire.  Their  vaults  were,  how¬ 
ever,  as  a  rule  intact.  On  September  8th  a  large 
number  of  them  opened  their  doors  for  business. 
On  the  9th  the  Yokohama  Bank  announced  that  the 
usual  semi-annual  dividend  of  six  per  cent  would  be 
paid.  Within  a  week  the  banks  were  doing  business, 
paying  depositors  and  creditors  as  needed.  Life  and 
fire  insurance  companies,  twenty-seven  of  them, 
promptly  announced  on  September  8th  their  decisions 
to  pay  in  full  on  all  losses,  without  taking  advantage 
of  the  earthquake  clauses  of  the  contracts.  These  and 
other  financial  measures,  with  large  appropriations  for 
relief  by  the  Government,  did  much  to  maintain  the 
confidence  and  courage  of  the  people.  But  the  life 
and  fire  insurance  companies  found  later  that  the  claims 
far  exceeded  their  abilities  to  pay. 

The  Minister  of  Finance  issued  a  statement  quite 
promptly  to  the  effect  that  “the  disaster  did  not  fall 
on  any  districts  important  for  the  production  of  staple 
commodities  for  export  or  for  the  production  of  the 
necessaries  for  consumption  and  thus  hardly  injured 
our  industries  at  all.  .  .  .  The  combined  productive 
power  of  the  damaged  Prefectures  was  less  than  10 


20 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


per  cent  of  that  of  Japan  proper;  less  than  20  per  cent 
of  the  productivity  of  these  Prefectures  has  been  im¬ 
paired,  which  is  less  than  2  per  cent  of  the  productivity 
of  Japan  proper.” 

Had  this  calamity  befallen  the  Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto 
region  the  industrial  situation  also  would  have  been 
appalling. 

Some  indication  of  the  business  confusion  resulting 
from  the  earthquake  and  fire  may  be  found  in  the  state¬ 
ment  issued  by  the  Japanese  Post  Office  on  September 
22d  concerning  the  Postal  Savings  Bank  deposits. 
The  official  records  kept  in  the  ledgers  had  been 
entirely  destroyed  by  fire,  and  of  course  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  depositors  in  the  ruined  regions  lost  all 
their  records.  It  was  stated  that  there  were  over  six 
million  depositors  in  all  parts  of  Japan  with  deposits 
of  300,000,000  yen  ($150,000,000).  No  way  to  meet 
the  situation  had  been  discovered  other  than  to  rely 
on  the  memories  of  clerks  and  on  the  consciences  of 
depositors. 


IV 

The  heart-rending  character  of  the  experiences  of 
those  who  passed  through  the  ordeal  can  hardly  be 
even  imagined.  A  letter  written  September  6th  by  a 
missionary  who  was  caught  in  the  catastrophe  in 
Yokohama  may  help  us  to  realize  what  happened. 

She  had  bidden  farewell  to  a  friend  sailing  on  the 
Australia  and  had  just  taken  an  electric  car  when 
the  first  shock  shattered  the  concrete  trestle  and  made 
the  car  “jump  and  knock  and  swing  around  in  the 
strangest  manner,  utterly  indescribable.  ...  We 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  21 


•crouched  and  ran  for  the  door  and  jumped  off,  falling 
to  the  ground.  .  .  .  The  next  car  to  us  overturned. 
Too  dazed  to  realize  what  had  happened,  I  glanced 
about  and  there  was  not  a  house  standing.  A  yellow 
dust  arose  and  a  great  shriek,  and  then  a  deathly 
silence.  I  cannot  account  for  the  silence.  It  may  be 
I  was  too  stunned  to  hear.  ...  We  stumbled  back  to 
the  station,  avoiding  the  falling  wires.  Many  people  on 
crowded  cars  were  electrocuted,  a  merciful  death.  .  .  . 
Immediately  in  all  directions  fires  sprang  up.  A  stream 
of  humanity  came  pouring  toward  us  (into  the  open 
square  in  front  of  the  station).  Many  of  them  were 
bleeding.  ...  I  knelt  on  the  ground  till  a  policeman 
whistled  and  said,  ‘Everyone  to  the  hills.’  I  followed 
the  crowd  over  the  broken,  tippy  road,  the  walking 
extremely  difficult  and  the  fear  of  falling  into  cracks. 
One  man  had  the  earth  open  where  he  was  standing 
and  he  fell  in  up  to  his  waist.” 

As  they  went  up  the  hill  she  found  herself  walking 
beside  a  young  man  of  twenty,  a  Korean;  but  for 
his  faithful  help  during  the  following  two  days  she 
could  hardly  have  escaped  the  fearful  fires.  And  later 
she  in  turned  saved  his  life.  At  the  top  of  the  hill 
in  an  open  space,  in  front  of  a  shrine  with  hundreds 
of  others,  they  spent  several  hours.  There  she  “be¬ 
came  so  interested  in  various  groups,  the  rich  and  the 
poor,  the  calm  and  the  frightened.  One  woman  sat 
there  sweet  and  smiling  with  her  six  children  in  a 
row,  as  proper  and  quiet  as  if  they  were  in  Sunday 
school.  How  good  the  young  men  were  to  their 
mothers.  One  young  man  said  he  was  connected  with 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  He  brought  his  mother,  his  baby, 


22 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


his  wife  and  his  sister  in  safety.  .  .  .  The  wounded 
were  brought  up  on  people’s  backs.  .  .  .  My  boy  went 
off  to  reconnoiter  and  came  back  with  a  girl  of  twenty 
on  his  back  and  her  mother  tottering  after.  The  girl 
was  wounded  and  he  found  them  lying  by  the  road¬ 
side  with  the  flames  almost  up  to  them.  .  .  .  The  fire 
was  getting  nearer  on  two  sides.  ...  I,  too,  went  to 
see.  ‘Let  us  get  out  of  here,’  he  said.  ‘Bu,t  how  can 
we  leave  these  women?  They  will  be  terrified,’  I  re¬ 
plied.  My  heart  clung  to  these  people,  the  little  girl 
of  eight  who  had  been  praying  steadily  for  two  hours ; 
the  old  blind  woman  whose  face  was  peaceful  but 
whose  lips  never  ceased  to  move  in  prayer;  the  frail 
old  white-haired  men  and  women  who  clung  to  each 
other  with  such  a  look  of  despair;  the  family  of  five, 
refined,  well  dressed  people,  all  pale  and  exhausted; 
mother,  son,  his  little  girl,  and  his  wife  lying  there  with 
•her  baby  a  few  days  old.  Still  I  could  not  help  them. 
.  .  .  So  we  stole  away  from  our  prostrate  friends, 
hoping  they  would  not  see  us  go.” 

Up  and  down  steep  hills  they  went,  constantly  noting 
the  approaching  flames,  till  they  came  to  the  city  reser¬ 
voir,  the  highest  place  in  Yokohama.  “There  we  sat 
and  watched  for  two  hours  the  four  places  we  had 
been  in,  one  after  the  other,  burn  and  burn.  The  loss 
of  life  at  the  Daijingu  (the  Shrine)  was  terrible. 
There  was  no  way  out  but  the  way  we  had  come  with 
so  much  difficulty.  Had  we  waited  ten  minutes  there 
would  have  been  a  panic.  The  strong  pushing  the  weak 
in  their  frenzied  efforts  to  get  away.  ...  It  was 
heartrending  to  watch  those  beautiful,  cruel  flames 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  23 


and  to  think  of  the  many  we  had  been  interested  in 
who  could  not  get  away.  .  . 

There  at  the  reservoir  they  spent  Saturday  night, 
Sunday  and  Sunday  night.  Monday  morning  they 
made  their  way  to  the  bund  and  finally  succeeded  in 
being  taken  on  board  the  President  Jackson  and  so 
reached  Kobe.  In  the  course  of  her  long  letter,  here 
much  abbreviated,  occurs  the  following  tribute  to  Japa¬ 
nese  character :  “My  close  contact  with  the  many 
Japanese  strangers  has  given  me  a  deeper  love  for  them 
and  appreciation  of  real  Japanese  character,  their  pa¬ 
tience,  fortitude,  generosity,  kindness,  sympathy;  all 
these  I  saw  in  abundance.” 

This  tribute  was  written  in  spite  of  what  she  her¬ 
self  had  seen  with  her  own  eyes  of  Japanese  mobs 
searching  out  and  cruelly  killing  defenseless  Koreans. 
She  also  knew  of  the  looting  and  murder  by  Japanese 
ruffians,  which  at  once  started  up  in  Yokohama  with 
the  outbreak  of  the  fires.  How  many  Koreans  and 
other  foreigners  were  killed  in  these  ways  has  not  been 
reported,  but  the  number  certainly  exceeds  a  hundred 
and  is  probably  much  greater.  This  aspect  of  the  great 
tragedy  is  perhaps  the  most  tragic  and  the  most  lamen¬ 
table.  It  seems  that  when  the  fires  broke  out  rumors 
immediately  started  and  ran  like  wild-fire  that  Koreans 
had  lighted  the  fires  and  were  polluting  and  poisoning 
the  wells.  Under  these  terrible  circumstances  race 
prejudice  led  to  its  instant  belief  and  to  the  frightful 
results. 

A  missionary  who  spent  two  days  in  Tokyo  while 
the  fires  and  quakes  were  at  their  worst  reports  what 
he  saw  as  follows:  “Everyone  was  obsessed  with  the 


24 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


idea  that  some  Koreans  were  on  the  rampage.  Every¬ 
one  on  the  road  had  a  club,  or  an  iron  pipe  or  some 
weapon.  There  have  been  Korean  coolies  employed 
in  this  vicinity  (referring  to  Yokohama) — harmless 
creatures,  but  people  have  an  idea  that  fires  have  been 
started  by  Korean  extremists  and  by  socialists.  Ab¬ 
surd,  I  think;  but  toward  Yokohama  it  became  more 
pronounced,  and  it  was  almost  a  man-hunt.  .  .  . 

“Everywhere  (in  Tokyo)  there  was  excitement,  and 
men  in  groups  with  wooden  clubs  and  sections  of  pip¬ 
ing,  talking  excitedly  about  Koreans  who  were  supposed 
to  be  coming  from  Meguro  way.  Motor  cars  and 
cycles  rushing  back  and  forth.  Koreans  were  reported 
to  be  coming  down  a  back  street  and  there  would  be  a 
rush.  Then  a  rush  in  a  front  street.  Here  would  be 
people  sitting  on  the  side  of  the  road  placidly  feeding 
children  and  babies;  there  would  be  a  group  of  men 
with  iron  rods,  wooden  staves,  a  gun  or  two,  old- 
fashioned  swords,  or  in  one  case  a  revolver,  watching 
and  waiting  for  Koreans.  ...  It  was  very  weird.  .  .  . 
It  reminded  me  of  a  negro  hunt  such  as  disgraced  Chi¬ 
cago  a  few  years  back.  ...  I  plugged  along  the  road, 
but  sincerely  hoped  I  would  not  be  mistaken  for  a 
Korean.” 

From  many  sides  come  reports  of  two  nights  spent 
by  Japanese  in  terror,  fearing  Korean  attacks.  And  it 
turns  out  that  the  police  and  soldiers  as  promptly  as 
possible  rounded  up  nearly  two  thousand  Koreans  in 
Tokyo  and  surrounded  them  with  protection  to  save 
them  from  harm  by  hysterical  mobs. 

But  an  interesting  sidelight  is  thrown  on  this  dread¬ 
ful  affair.  On  October  7th,  a  “Memorial  Service 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  25 


for  Foreigners”  who  had  lost  their  lives  in  the  earth¬ 
quake  and  fire  was  held  in  the  Zojoji  Temple  in 
Tokyo  under  the  auspices  of  all  the  Buddhist  sects. 
“Although  the  rain  had  made  the  streets  rivers  of  mud, 
six  thousand  persons  came  to  honor  the  foreign  dead.” 
And  a  report  from  Korea  states  that  “Japanese  and 
Koreans  were  engaged  with  all  their  might  and  in 
perfect  harmony  in  their  relief  work.  On  September 
22d  a  great  religious  service  for  the  souls  of 
the  dead  was  held  at  the  combined  initiative  of  the 
Koreans  and  the  Japanese.” 

Narratives  of  what  they  saw,  experienced  and  heard 
have  been  coming  to  the  writer  from  personal  friends, 
both  Japanese  and  American.  The  tragic  material 
would  fill  many  pages.  Miraculous  escapes  are  re¬ 
ported  as  well  as  frightful  tortures.  One  woman  saw 
her  baby  in  the  baby-carriage  crushed  to  death,  as  she 
supposed,  as  the  building  fell  upon  it  and  completely 
buried  it.  In  frantic  haste  with  help  she  finally  suc¬ 
ceeded  in  removing  the  debris  and  found  the  carriage 
upside  down  but,  to  her  astonishment  and  joy,  the 
baby  safely  under  it  lying  quietly  unharmed  on  the 
mattress. 

In  Yokohama  a  woman’s  hand  was  caught  between 
heavy  timbers.  As  the  flames  approached  she  vainly 
struggled  to  the  limit  of  her  strength  and  no  one 
was  there  to  help  her.  Just  as  she  gave  up  help  and 
faced  the  flames  another  earthquake  shock  set  her 
free.  Many  parents  report  the  fearful  ordeal  of  seeing 
their  children  caught  in  the  ruins  of  their  homes  and 
burned  to  death  before  their  eyes.  What  words  can 
express  such  experiences? 


26 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


Tales  of  heroic  service  are  also  reported  in  large 
numbers.  Among  them  the  following  is  typical.  Two 
hundred  nurses  of  the  Hamada  hospital  formed  a 
stretcher  corps  for  the  rescue  of  their  helpless  pa¬ 
tients.  For  two  full  days  they  traveled  through  the 
quaking  and  burning  city  in  their  vain  search  for  some 
hospital  that  could  take  the  patients.  During  that  time 
they  had  nothing  to  eat  or  drink,  save  once  when  they 
were  given  some  eggs  and  biscuits.  Three  infants 
were  born  and  perfectly  cared  for  during  that  tragic 
pilgrimage. 


v 

America’s  response  to  the  human  suffering  and  need 
of  Japan  was  prompt.  The  earthquake  occurred  Sat¬ 
urday,  September  ist,  just  before  noon.  Our  after¬ 
noon  papers  that  very  day  carried  the  first  news.  Had 
telegraphic  communication  of  Tokyo  and  Yokohama 
with  the  outside  world  not  been  completely  cut,  our 
morning  papers  would  no  doubt  have  carried  it,  thus 
printing  the  first  news  several  hours — in  theory — be¬ 
fore  it  happened,  a  striking  illustration  of  the  amazing 
closeness  of  the  Far  East  to  the  Far  West.  Even  in 
Japan  a  full  day  elapsed  before  the  neighboring  cities 
had  any  real  knowledge  of  the  extent  of  the  tragedy. 
In  Kobe  it  was  only  by  Sunday  night  that  some  ap¬ 
preciation  developed  of  what  had  happened  and  not 
till  Monday  was  a  relief  expedition  sent  north  by  sea. 

Sunday  morning  the  American  Red  Cross  in  con¬ 
ference  with  President  Coolidge  began  that  swift  cam¬ 
paign  for  help  for  Japan’s  earthquake  sufferers,  which 
gave  appropriate  opportunity  for  the  expression  of 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  27 


sympathy  and  goodwill  felt  by  all  of  America’s  best 
citizens. 

The  forces  were  soon  marshalled.  Red  Cross  Chap¬ 
ters  all  over  the  country  sprang  into  instant  life.  The 
Federal  Council  of  Churches  promptly  issued  a  call  to 
cooperate  with  the  Red  Cross  in  sending  immediate 
relief  and  suggested  that  prayer  for  Japan  in  this  time 
of  her  suffering  and  loss  be  offered  in  all  our  churches. 
Organizations  of  all  kinds  and  the  daily  press  lent  their 
invaluable  aid;  the  President’s  proclamation  secured 
instant  attention ;  on  Tuesday,  September  4th,  the  Red 
Cross  called  for  a  five-million-dollar  relief  fund;  by 
Monday,  the  10th,  the  full  amount  was  in  sight  and  by 
the  end  of  the  month  the  amount  actually  raised  was 
more  than  doubled. 

In  the  meantime  America’s  fastest  destroyers  and 
other  vessels  were  headed  full  speed  for  Japan  on  their 
errand  of  mercy.  From  Manila  and  China  they  sailed 
and  ere  long  from  California,  Washington  and  Van¬ 
couver,  loaded  with  food,  medicine  and  clothing.  The 
Japanese  Red  Cross  and  Army  promptly  took  pos¬ 
session  of  the  devastated  region.  Immediate  coordina¬ 
tion  and  cooperation  of  all  the  relief  agencies  were 
effected.  Supplies,  and  funds  by  the  million,  began 
to  pour  into  Japan,  Ambassador  Woods  handing  to  the 
Premier  a  single  check  for  $1,000,000.  In  less  than 
two  weeks  the  most  appalling  calamity  of  history  had 
called  into  being  one  of  the  most  splendid  manifesta¬ 
tions  of  human  brotherhood  and  goodwill  that  has  ever 
been  seen.  Distinctions  of  race,  color,  and  religion 
were  all  ignored.  The  outstanding  fact  that  appealed 
to  all  was  that  fellow  men  by  tens  of  thousands  had 


28 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


been  killed  by  a  sudden  calamity,  scores  of  thousands 
had  been  burned  to  death  and  over  a  mihion  were  in¬ 
jured  and  destitute  and  in  need  of  instant  help. 

VI 

In  the  light  of  what  we  now  know  it  is  possible  to 
make  some  appraisement  of  the  probable  results  of  her 
terrific  experience  to  Japan  herself  and  also  to  her  rela¬ 
tions  with  other  lands.  For  a  new  Japan  has  been  born 
through  suffering  and  loss,  a  loss  and  a  suffering  com¬ 
parable  in  some  respects  to  those  of  war,  but  having 
wholly  different  mental,  moral  and  spiritual  aspects. 

On  the  physical  side  Japan  will  soon  begin  to  show 
remarkable  improvements  in  her  two  central  cities. 
Before  the  fires  were  out,  city  planning  began  afresh 
with  vigor.  For  years  Japan’s  practical  business  men 
of  thought  and  vision  have  realized  that  she  was  seri¬ 
ously  handicapped  in  her  efforts  to  incorporate  modern 
world  civilization  by  reason  of  her  cities  that  just  grew 
by  chance  through  many  decades  or  even  centuries. 
During  the  past  ten  years  the  more  progressive  cities 
had  begun  at  great  expense  to  widen  and  straighten 
their  principal  thoroughfares.  All  have  had  large 
schemes  for  city  improvements.  City  planning  has 
been  a  favorite  theme  for  enterprising  university  gradu¬ 
ates  and  men  of  foreign  travel. 

Now  comes  a  wonderful  opportunity  and  it  will  no 
doubt  be  utilized.  A  new  modern  city,  fitted  to  be 
the  capital  of  a  great  nation,  will  in  a  score  of  years 
or  even  in  a  decade  take  the  place  of  the  rambling 
collection  of  overgrown  and  poorly  connected  villages 
that  have  constituted  the  Tokyo  of  the  past.  Wretched 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  29 


slums  have  been  wiped  out.  An  adequate  system  of 
local  transportation,  of  lighting,  and  of  local  power, 
will  be  introduced. 

The  large  steel-frame  reinforced  concrete  buildings, 
recently  erected  in  Tokyo  by  American  firms,  seem  to 
have  stood  the  earthquake  better  than  any  others.  This 
type  will  certainly  be  favored  in  the  future  for  large 
offices,  factories  and  government  buildings.  Heavy 
tiled  roofs,  on  light  wooden  frames,  two  and  three 
stories  high,  will  hardly  reappear  to  any  great  extent. 
Low  residential  houses  with  maltoid  and  asbestos  roof¬ 
ing  will  no  doubt  become  common. 

Better  provision  will  be  made  for  preventing  great 
fires,  which  even  without  earthquakes  have  caused  such 
frequent  enormous  losses.  More  parks  for  the  people 
and  playgrounds  for  the  children  in  the  congested 
areas  will  also  be  provided. 

Significant  evidence  of  the  forethought  of  Japan’s 
leaders  appears  in  the  fact  that  more  than  a  year  ago 
they  persuaded  Professor  Charles  A.  Beard  to  spend 
eight  months  in  Tokyo,  studying  the  problem  of  her 
municipal  organization.  Ten  days  after  the  earth¬ 
quake,  Professor  Beard  received  a  cable  request  from 
Baron  Goto  to  come  again  to  Japan.  Just  before  leav¬ 
ing  Professor  Beard  described  his  proposed  work  as 
the  “very  modest  one  of  bringing  the  light  of  American 
experience  to  bear  upon  the  plans”  already  prepared 
by  “able  Japanese  engineers”  and  “competent  special¬ 
ists.”  “The  Japanese  understand  their  own  problems,” 
he  added,  “better  than  any  foreigner  can  and  those 
who  want  to  help  Japan  in  this  crisis  will  do  well  to 
remember  this  simple  fact.” 


SO  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 

The  New  York  Bureau  of  Municipal  Research,  of 
which  Professor  Beard  was  one  of  the  founders  and 
a  former  director,  promptly  wrote  to  Baron  Goto, 
asking  that  Professor  Beard  “be  regarded  as  an  envoy 
of  the  Bureau”  and  asking  further  to  be  allowed  “to 
meet  all  the  expenses  of  his  mission.”  The  closing 
sentence  expressed  “admiration  of  the  energy,  effi¬ 
ciency,  and  imagination  with  which  you  are  undertak¬ 
ing  the  work  of  reconstruction.” 

With  the  rebuilding  of  the  cities  and  towns  will 
come  important  improvements  in  facilities  for  travel, 
transportation  and  communication,  enabling  the  new 
Japan  to  increase  her  production.  Rail  and  steamer 
connections  and  terminals  will  make  possible  much 
more  rapid  shipment  of  goods  than  in  the  past.  Ma¬ 
chinery  with  electric  and  steam  power  will  be  vastly 
increased,  all  promoting  the  raising  of  the  scale  of 
living  for  all  classes. 

In  this  time  of  rapid  rebuilding  a  real  danger  con¬ 
fronts  Japan.  It  concerns  the  style  of  her  new  archi¬ 
tecture.  For  a  time  the  first  need  will  be  for  shelter 
regardless  of  appearance.  Countless  rough  shacks  with 
corrugated  iron  roofs  will  disfigure  the  cities.  Gradu¬ 
ally  these  will  disappear  and  regular  buildings  will  take 
their  place.  The  temptation  will  be  to  build  cheap, 
ugly  foreign  style  structures  innocent  of  the  essential 
grace  and  beauty  of  the  average  home  of  the  average 
Japanese.  There  is  something  captivatingly  exquisite 
in  Japan’s  older  civilization  which  neither  she  nor  the 
world  can  afford  to  lose.  Let  us  earnestly  hope  that 
in  this  period  of  recovery  and  reconstruction  these 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  31 


essential  elements  of  her  unique  achievements  may  not 
be  sacrificed  or  lost. 

To  finance  Japan’s  rebuilding  programs,  already 
financiers  are  talking  of  enormous  loans  in  America 
and  Great  Britain.  Bankers  here  have  declared  that 
her  credit  is  so  good  that  they  could  be  easily  floated. 
Large  portions,  no  doubt,  would  be  spent  in  America 
for  materials  and  machinery  thus  binding  together,  in 
still  more  intimate  relationships,  the  financial  interests 
of  the  East  and  the  West. 

A  year  or  more  must  elapse  before  very  great  head¬ 
way  can  be  made  in  the  rebuilding  of  the  new  cities, 
but  the  plans  will  all  be  made  and  important  beginnings 
will  have  started  in  a  few  months.  In  five  years  they 
will  be  well  on  their  way  and  in  ten  they  will  be 
practically  completed.  Before  the  end  of  that  period 
Japan’s  loss  in  national  wealth  will  have  been  more 
than  made  good  and  a  Japan  more  prosperous  and  more 
powerful  than  before  will  stand  among  the  nations 
of  the  world  prepared  for  comradeship  in  helping  to 
make  this  a  better  place  to  live  in. 

VII 

Among  the  impressive  facts  of  the  situation  is  the 
courage  and  cool  determination  of  people  and  leaders. 
Their  frightful  losses  and  sufferings  have  not  daunted 
their  spirits  nor  weakened  their  determination  to  de¬ 
serve  the  title  in  which  they  take  pride,  “Dai  Nippon’’ 
— Great  Japan. 

A  manifesto  issued  to  the  nation  by  Premier  Yama¬ 
moto  in  addition  to  detailed  instructions  on  many 
points  declared  that  the  way  in  which  the  nation  reacts 


32 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


on  this  experience  will  constitute  “the  measure  of  her 
national  character  in  the  eyes  of  the  world/’ 

Viscount  Shibusawa  in  a  cable  message  to  the  writer 
speaks  of  his  own  miraculous  escape  and  declares  that 
the  most  hopeful  fact  is  the  courage  and  hope  of  the 
people.  The  full  message  is  as  follows : 

€ 

“The  terrible  earthquake  followed  by  the  conflagra¬ 
tion  has  reduced  to  ashes  70  or  80  per  cent,  of  the  two 
great  cities  of  Tokyo  and  Yokohama,  making  them 
look  almost  like  a  vast  desert.  Various  smaller  cities, 
towns  and  villages  were  destroyed.  In  spite  of  the 
shocking  devastation  of  my  office  and  of  factories, 
stores  and  banks  with  some  of  which  I  am  related,  I 
escaped  danger  almost  miraculously,  receiving  no  harm 
whatever.  Though  old,  I  am  busily  engaged  in  rescue 
work,  combating  with  the  misery  and  suffering  of  the 
afflicted  ones  through  the  organization  of  Daishingai 
Kiugokai  (Association  for  the  Great  Earthquake 
Emergency)  which  we  organized.  The  loss  is  so  great 
that  it  cannot  be  estimated  at  this  moment.  One  com¬ 
forting  feature  in  this  dark  hour  is  the  unconquerable 
optimism  of  my  people  to  strive  for  restoration.  We 
may  have  to  rely  upon  the  sympathy  and  assistance  of 
the  American  nation  for  reconstruction.” 

Japanese  financiers  in  New  York,  already  quoted, 
close  their  careful  estimates  of  the  losses  involved  with 
the  words:  “We  look  to  the  work  of  reconstruction 
unafraid  with  our  face  turned  toward  the  rising  sun 
in  gratitude  and  in  confidence.” 

VIII 

From  America  have  gone  to  Japan  not  only  sub¬ 
stantial  financial  and  material  help,  but  numberless 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  33 


expressions  of  sympathy  and  goodwill.  These  were 
sent  by  President  Coolidge  and  the  Department  of 
State  as  representing  our  Government,  but  they  also 
went  from  all  kinds  of  organizations  and  from  hun¬ 
dreds,  perhaps  even  thousands  of  individuals,  who 
have  at  one  time  or  another  experienced  the  delightful 
hospitality  of  the  Japanese  in  their  beautiful  country 
and  have  become  personally  acquainted  with  her  lead¬ 
ers.  The  message  from  the  Federal  Council  of  the 
Churches  expressed  “on  behalf  of  twenty  million 
American  Christians  deepest  sympathy  with  our  Chris¬ 
tian  brethren  in  Japan,  missionaries,  pastors  and  laymen 
at  this  time  of  their  calamity,  suffering  and  sorrow. 
In  all  our  churches,”  the  message  went  on,  “prayer  is 

being  offered  for  Japan  and  her  people.  Though  the 

• 

earth  be  shaken  and  the  mountains  crumble  let  faith 
in  God  stand  firm.  For,  ‘Who  shall  separate  us  from 
the  love  of  Christ?  Shall  tribulation,  or  anguish,  or 
persecution,  or  famine,  or  nakedness,  or  peril,  or 
sword?  .  .  .  Nay,  in  all  these  things  we  are  more  than 
conquerors  through  Him  that  loved  us/  Rom.  8, 
35-37 ;  cf.,  also  Col.  1,  9-1 1.” 

A  similar  cablegram  went  from  the  Committee  of 
Reference  and  Counsel  of  the  Foreign  Mission  Boards 
in  North  America. 

The  press  of  the  United  States  has  rendered  magnifi¬ 
cent  service  in  reporting  the  facts  so  fully,  in  making 
known  the  Red  Cross  calls  for  relief  funds  and  in 
promoting  the  spirit  of  sympathy  and  goodwill  for 
Japan.  Many  striking  passages  in  editorials  have  elo¬ 
quently  voiced  the  thought  and  feelings  of  our  people. 
A  full  collection  of  these  utterances  would  be  well 


3  4 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


worth  making  and  forwarding  to  Japan.  Let  just  one 
indicate  their  general  character. 

The  leading  editorial  of  the  New  York  Times  on 
September  14th,  entitled  “The  Worst  and  the  Best/’ 
after  speaking  of  the  150,000  dead  already  counted,  of 
ten  times  that  number  wounded  and  of  the  millions  left 
homeless,  goes  on  to  say:  “If  the  worst  that  has 
happened  is  now  established,  so  also  is  the  best.  The 
world-wide  flow  of  sympathy  and  aid  to  the  victims 
of  the  unparalleled  calamity  has  shown  that  the  whole 
world  is  kin  at  such  a  time.  Japan,  which  was  for 
a  few  days  overwhelmed  in  the  midst  of  her  ruin,  is 
today  overcome  with  gratitude  toward  those  who  sped 
to  her  assistance.  The  courage  and  resourcefulness 
of  the  Japanese  Government  and  people  promptly  as¬ 
serted  themselves.  .  .  .  As  the  case  stands  at  present, 
the  worst  disaster  in  human  experience  has  served  to 
bring  out  the  best  qualities  in  human  nature.” 

The  spirit  revealed  by  American  business  men  and 
financiers  who  have  given  vast  sums  for  Japanese 
relief  should  help  overthrow  the  rather  widespread 
popular  opinion  in  Japan  that  financial  and  business 
America  purposes  to  throttle  Japan  as  a  business  rival. 
Were  such  in  fact  their  purpose  they  would  hardly 
have  made  such  generous  gifts,  nor  would  it  be  possi¬ 
ble  for  Japan  to  think  of  raising  any  substantial  loan 
in  America  for  purposes  of  prompt  reconstruction  and 
recovery. 

The  American  press,  in  reporting  the  amounts  raised 
for  relief  as  recorded  by  the  American  Red  Cross, 
frequently  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  when  San 
Francisco  was  overwhelmed  by  earthquakes  and  fire 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  35 


nearly  twenty  years  ago  the  first  and  the  largest  relief 
funds  received  from  abroad  came  from  Japan,  some 
$246,000.  It  is  worth  noting  in  this  connection  that 
the  Pacific  Coast  States  contributed  in  this  emergency 
to  the  American  Red  Cross  relief  funds  for  Japan  more 
than  $1,340,000. 

In  addition  to  the  funds  raised  in  California  and 
transmitted  through  the  American  Red  Cross,  Jap¬ 
anese  residents  on  the  Pacific  coast  raised  about  one 
million  dollars.  Japanese  residents  in  Los  Angeles 
raised  about  four  hundred  thousand  dollars  of  which 
they  gave  fifty  thousand  dollars  toward  the  city’s  quota. 

Among  the  notable  events  in  connection  with  Japan’s 
disaster  were  several  actions  by  the  League  of  Na¬ 
tions.  On  September  3d,  it  sent  a  vote  of  sympathy 
to  the  stricken  nation.  A  week  afterward,  when  the 
appalling  facts  had  been  better  known,  the  adjourn¬ 
ment  of  that  day’s  meeting  was  voted  as  an  expression 
of  sympathy.  Still  later,  on  motion  of  a  French  dele¬ 
gate,  reduction  of  the  annual  expense  of  the  Japanese 
delegation  to  the  League,  which  stood  third  in  the  list 
— being  preceded  only  by  Great  Britain  and  by  France 
— was  unanimously  adopted,  the  Japanese  quota  being 
reduced  for  next  year  from  73  to  61  units.  As  each 
“unit”  of  expense  in  American  money  means  $5,247.00, 
the  amount  which  the  other  members  of  the  League  of 
Nations  have  thus  undertaken  to  meet  is  almost 
$63,000.00,  a  most  practical  token  of  their  profound 
sympathy  with  Japan  at  a  moment  in  which,  as  the  mo¬ 
tion  reads,  “she  has  been  overtaken  by  a  catastrophe 
of  unprecedented  magnitude.” 

The  League  had  earlier  unanimously  adopted  a  reso- 


36 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


lution,  submitted  by  a  member  from  Persia,  which 
bears  witness  that  Japan  was  remembered  in  her  cul¬ 
tural  as  well  as  her  financial  loss.  The  resolution  is 
as  follows: 

“The  Fifth  Committee,  grieving  at  the  calamity 
which  has  stricken  the  universities  and  libraries  of 
the  capital  of  Japan,  invites  the  Committee  on  Inter¬ 
national  Cooperation  to  study  means  to  afford  interna¬ 
tional  assistance  so  as  to  facilitate  the  reconstruction 
of  the  library  and  scientific  collections  which  have  been 
destroyed  in  Japan.” 

Thus  did  the  united  nations  of  the  entire  world  in 
their  official  capacity,  express  their  sympathy  for  Japan 
in  her  suffering  and  sorrow. 

IX 

Replies  from  the  Japanese  Embassy  in  Washington 
and  later  from  the  highest  officials  in  Japan,  as  well 
as  from  prominent  leaders,  declare  in  no  uncertain 
voice  the  response  of  gratitude  and  appreciation  for 
these  kindly  deeds  and  words. 

On  September  ioth  Premier  Count  Yamamoto  sent 
a  long  message  to  the  Department  of  State,  summarized 
by  the  press  as  “expressing  the  gratitude  of  the  Japa¬ 
nese  people  for  the  ready  sympathy  and  assistance 
shown  by  the  United  States.”  The  message  begins 
with  references  to  Japan’s  “best  endeavors  to  follow 
the  letter  and  the  spirit  of  the  Versailles  Treaty  and 
the  Washington  Treaties,  which  we  believe  have  laid 
the  foundation  of  world  peace.”  It  recounts  the  out¬ 
standing  features  of  the  great  calamity  and  the  prompt 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  37 


steps  taken  for  relief  and  closes  with  the  following 
words : 

'‘With  these  facts  in  mind  I  desire  to  express  in 
the  name  of  the  Japanese  Government  their  most  heart¬ 
felt  thanks  to  the  American  Government  and  at  the 
same  time  to  convey  to  the  President  and  people  of 
the  United  States  the  deep  sense  of  gratitude  of  my 
Sovereign  and  of  the  entire  nation  of  Japan  for  this 
noble  manifestation  of  a  sincere  and  generous  sym¬ 
pathy.  I  am  happy  in  believing  that  this  precious 
gift  of  American  sympathy  in  the  hour  of  greatest 
trial  for  the  Japanese  nation  cannot  but  serve  the  peace 
of  the  world  in  drawing  still  closer  the  bond  of  friend¬ 
ship  and  trust  between  the  two  countries.” 

These  closing  words  show  how  deep  in  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  Japan’s  leaders  is  the  question  of  permanent 
peace  between  the  nations. 

Cable  messages  report  an  official  call  upon  Ambassa¬ 
dor  Woods  in  Tokyo  by  Prince  Tokugawa  and  Baron 
Sakatani,  President  and  Vice-President  respectively 
of  the  House  of  Peers,  and  with  them  of  Viscount 
Shibusawa,  representing  Japanese  civilians,  to  express 
through  our  Ambassador  to  the  Government  and  people 
of  the  United  States  their  deep  appreciation  of  Amer¬ 
ica’s  help  and  sympathy. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  American  Red  Cross 
held  in  Washington,  September  24,  1923,  after  the 
address  by  President  Coolidge,  Ambassador  Hanihara 
expressed  directly  to  the  American  people  the  thanks 
of  the  Japanese  Government  and  people.  He  recalled 
the  fact  that  the  Washington  Conference  on  Limitation 
of  Armament  was  held  in  the  very  hall — Continental 


38 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


Hall — in  which  the  Red  Cross  was  then  convened.  He 
spoke  of  the  great  value  of  that  Conference  in  promot¬ 
ing  better  understandings  and  relations.  But  he  went 
on  to  say,  referring  to  the  calamity  and  the  relief 
measures,  that  “events  have  transpired  that  may  well 
prove  to  be  more  far-reaching  in  their  importance  than 
even  the  Washington  Treaties. 

“The  first  flash  of  that  dreadful  news  aroused  in 
your  country  a  universal  manifestation  of  genuine  hu¬ 
man  sympathy.  The  whole  country  united  in  a  noble 
movement  of  generosity  which  dispatched,  through  the 
splendid  organization  that  you  represent,  thousands 
of  tons  of  food  and  millions  of  dollars  in  money  and 
supplies  to  my  destitute  and  homeless  countrymen.  It 
was  such  an  unmistakable  evidence  of  the  great-hearted 
and  open-handed  sympathy  of  America  that  it  could  not 
be  misunderstood.  In  the  very  moment  of  our  sorest 
need  you  did  not  fail  us. 

“Now  I  want  to  point  out  to  you  what  I  believe 
will  be  the  results  of  this  action  of  yours. 

“Of  course  Japan  will  be  grateful.  Never — for  we 
have  long  memories  in  my  country — never  shall  we 
forget  your  sympathy  in  this  hour  of  our  national  dis¬ 
tress.  But  in  remembering  your  sympathy  so  genuine 
and  generous,  we  shall  lose  all  thought  of  ‘American 
aggressiveness  in  the  Far  East/  It  will  henceforth  be 
difficult,  indeed,  for  professional  jingoes  to  terrorize 
an  ignorant  public  opinion  to  the  point  where  it  will 
countenance  policies  of  military  aggrandizement,  on 
the  ground  of  preparedness  against  fancied  American 
threats.  The  natural  reaction  of  a  Japanese  to  the 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  39 

mention  of  America  will  be  a  thrill  of  gratitude  and 
warm  friendliness. 

“Thus  what  seemed  at  first  to  be  an  unmitigated  and 
horrible  catastrophe  is  likely  to  leave — in  spite  of  the 
awful  toll  of  death  and  bereavement — for  Japan  at 
least — one  bright  spot.  The  earthquake  is  in  a  sense 
a  supplement  to  the  Washington  conference.  The  con¬ 
ference  and  its  consequences  showed  Japan’s  sincerity 
to  America;  the  earthquake  revealed  to  Japan  the  un¬ 
strained  quality  of  the  mercy  in  America’s  heart.  So 
Japan  will  now  proceed  to  the  work  of  rehabilitation 
with  reinforced  hope,  confidence,  courage  and  deter¬ 
mination.” 

Official  response  of  the  Japanese  nation  to  the  sym¬ 
pathy  of  the  League  of  Nations  was  presented  by  Count 
Ishii  to  the  President  of  the  Assembly  of  the  League. 

“We  have  received,”  he  said,  “a  telegram  from  Tokio 
to  the  effect  that  the  Imperial  Government,  deeply 
moved  by  the  sentiments  of  deep  sympathy  expressed 
by  the  Assembly  at  its  meetings  of  the  third  and  tenth 
instant,  on  the  occasion  of  the  terrible  catastrophe 
by  which  Japan  has  been  so  cruelly  stricken,  instructs 
me  to  express  the  sincere  gratitude  felt  by  the  Gov¬ 
ernment  and  nation  of  Japan. 

“It  is  with  personal  feelings  of  heartfelt  gratitude — 
feelings  which  are  shared  by  the  whole  Japanese  dele¬ 
gation — that  I  have  the  honor  to  request  you  to  convey 
to  the  Assembly,  the  expression  of  the  profound  and 
sincere  gratitude  felt  by  my  Government  and  by  the 
Japanese  nation.” 

x 

How  China  and  Korea  responded  to  the  call  of 
Japan’s  need  is  also  a  matter  of  deep  interest;  for  in 


40 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


Japan’s  appalling  calamity  her  immediate  neighbors 
have  an  opportunity  for  service  that  might  go  far 
toward  healing  the  wounds  of  the  recent  past  and 
begin  a  new  epoch  in  the  Far  East  through  the  recon¬ 
ciliation  of  the  nations. 

The  Peking  Daily  News  on  September  4th  under 
the  heading,  “Let  Everyone  help  in  the  Relief,”  car¬ 
ried  its  readers  this  message : 

“It  is  necessary  that  all  the  friendly  nations  should 
render  them  (the  Japanese)  the  utmost  relief.  A 
strong  sympathy  has  already  been  shown  by  the  Chinese 
as  reflected  in  the  views  expressed  either  publicly  or 
privately  in  official  and  non-official  circles  yesterday. 
Chinese  participation  in  the  relief  work  is  the  principal 
topic  of  discussion  among  the  Chinese.  A  special 
cabinet  meeting  was  called  to  discuss  the  grave  situ¬ 
ation  in  Japan.  It  was  decided  that  a  message  of 
sympathy  be  sent  to  the  Japanese  Government  and 
that  the  Government  should  initiate  a  movement  to 
raise  funds  for  the  relief  work.  The  Cabinet  set  the 
pace  by  appropriating  a  sum  of  $200,000  besides  order¬ 
ing  the  sending  over  of  clothings  and  foodstuffs  from 
Shanghai  and  Hankow  to  Japan.  The  Minister  of 
Foreign  Affairs  started  a  movement  for  funds  for 
relief  purposes  upon  hearing  the  sad  news.  Marshal 
Tsao  Kun  yesterday  morning  instructed  his  repre¬ 
sentative  in  Peking  to  call  upon  the  Japanese  Legation 
to  offer  his  deep  sympathy  to  the  Japanese  Government 
and  the  Japanese  people.  These  are  the  spontaneous 
expression  of  the  heartfelt  grief  of  the  Chinese  leaders 
over  the  disaster.  We  have  no  doubt  that  this  sym¬ 
pathy  which  has  been  so  sincerely  expressed  will  take 
a  practical  form  as  soon  as  possible.  Unquestionably 
when  the  news  reaches  all  parts  of  the  country,  there 
will  be  a  nation-wide  response  to  the  call  for  sub- 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  41 


scription  of  relief  funds  to  be  sent  to  Japan  at  once. 

“We  may  also  mention  the  fact  that  the  Japanese 
people  played  an  important  role  in  relieving  the  Chinese 
sufferers  from  the  floods  in  1917  in  Chihli  and  other 
provinces.  Aside  from  humanitarian  reasons,  the  Chi¬ 
nese  people  should  give  freely  and  without  stint  to  the 
relief  work  in  reciprocation. 

“All  the  public  bodies,  such  as  the-  educational  asso¬ 
ciations,  Chamber  of  Commerce,  student  unions,  pro¬ 
vincial  assemblies  and  others,  should  do  what  they 
can  in  the  collection  of  funds  for  the  relief  work  so 
that  every  stratum  of  society  may  be  reached. 

“This  campaign  should  be  one  of  the  people.  It 
should  be  one  of  the  people.  It  should  be  the  offering 
of  the  Chinese  people  to  the  Japanese  people.  It  should 
not  be  a  governmental  affair.” 

Two  days  later  it  contained  this  added  word  of 
neighborliness : 

“We  should  relegate  to  the  background  all  differ¬ 
ences  arising  out  of  diplomacy.  This  is  a  time  for 
China  to  create  a  new  epoch  in  the  history  of  mutual 
sympathy  and  help.” 


The  China  Weekly  Review  on  September  8th  and 
22nd  added  facts  and  comments  as  follows : 

“Help  and  sympathy  are  pouring  into  Japan  from 
every  side.  It  is  generously  given  and  will  be  grate¬ 
fully  received.  Japan’s  hour  of  trial  will  cement  an¬ 
other  bond  of  fellowship  between  the  Japanese  and 
other  peoples.  ...  In  the  days  to  come  may  all 
remember  this  impressive  example  of  life’s  uncertainty 
in  the  face  of  the  elements.  May  the  memory  help 
all  to  see  the  folly  of  striving  against  one  another  when 


42 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


mankind  has  such  forces  of  nature  as  were  just  re¬ 
leased  in  Japan  to  overcome,  or  at  least  to  mitigate. 

“It  is  a  matter  of  no  small  interest  and  significance 
in  connection  with  the  Japanese  disaster  to  know  that 
the  first  relief  ship  to  reach  the  shores  of  Japan  was 
the  steamship  Hsin  Ming ,  sent  by  the  China  Merchants 
Steamship  Association  and  carrying  supplies  collected 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Chinese  General  Chamber 
of  Commerce  of  this  city  (Shanghai).  The  ship  also 
carried  the  American  Red  Cross  unit,  but  that  had 
nothing  to  do  with  the  fact  that  the  Chinese  at  once 
got  on  the  job  and  sent  relief  of  their  own  accord  to 
a  stricken  neighbor.” 

A  cablegram  from  Shanghai  of  September  23rd  also 
gave  interesting  information.  Ex-Premier  Tang 
Shou-yi  was  reported  as  saying :  “As  soon  as  the  earth¬ 
quake  news  appeared  the  Chinese  people  forgot  politics 
and  sought  to  find  a  method  of  assisting  the  stricken. 
The  strongest  anti-Japanese  alliance  consisting  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  societies  issued  an  appeal  calling 
on  the  public  to  help  Japan.  The  boycott  was  stopped' 
everywhere  and  coolies  loaded  ships  carrying  supplies. 
.  .  .  Everywhere  the  response  has  been  splendid.” 

Cy  Sun,  one  of  China’s  foremost  philanthropists, 
as  reported,  “organized  a  nation-wide  relief  appeal  with 
a  view  to  giving  even  the  poorest  an  opportunity  to 
contribute  something.” 

The  cablegram  goes  on  to  state  that  “superstitious 
Chinese  regard  the  earthquake  as  a  punishment  from 
Heaven  and  believe  that  those  who  escaped  are  good 
people  and  those  who  perished  expiated  wrongs  com¬ 
mitted.  They  take  it  to  mean  that  Japan  was  punished 
because  of  aggressions  toward  China.  All  Chinese 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  43 


are  agreed  that  aggressions  are  now  over  and  believe 
that  in  the  future  China-Japanese  relations  will  be 
amicable  with  both  nations  cooperating  for  mutual 
development.” 

The  foregoing  statements,  if  even  partially  correct, 
are  most  welcome.  If  China  has  really  forgiven  Japan 
and  has  actually  abandoned  the  boycott,  which  during 
June,  July  and  August  became  exceedingly  severe, 
causing  great  loss  to  Japanese  trade,  Japan  will  re¬ 
spond  with  a  new  attitude  of  appreciation  and  goodwill 
toward  China.  Both  countries  will  be  the  gainers,  and 
Japan’s  great  calamity  may  become  epochal,  not  only 
for  Japan  and  for  American- Japanese  relations,  but 
for  the  international  life  of  the  entire  Far  East  as  well. 

XI 

The  fearful  experience  undergone  by  more  than  one- 
tenth  of  her  population  cannot  fail  to  have  profound 
effects  on  the  mental,  moral  and  spiritual  life  of  the 
whole  nation.  Suffering,  death,  and  sorrow  among 
high  and  low  alike  have  evoked  the  common  sympathy 
of  all  classes  and  have  shown  to  all  their  deeper  human 
unity.  Relief  supplies  from  the  regions  not  affected 
went  promptly  to  the  centers  in  large  amounts.  The 
spirit  and  deeds  of  the  profiteer  were  remarkably  ab¬ 
sent.  Full  reports  on  this  matter,  however,  are  not 
yet  to  hand.  The  Japanese  Red  Cross  and  people 
responded  to  the  emergency  not  less  promptly  and 
vigorously  than  the  American  Red  Cross  and  people. 
Men  of  large  means  gave  most  generously.  Five  mil¬ 
lion  dollars  each  by  the  Emperor  and  the  Empress 
have  already  been  reported  in  the  American  press  and 


44  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 

a  million  dollars  each  by  the  Mitsubishi  and  the  Mitsui 
interests.  This  generosity  of  all  classes  is  producing 
consciousness  of  their  common  humanity  and  their 
common  life,  and  will  surely  narrow  the  class  chasms 
that  have  been  slowly  developing  during  recent  dec¬ 
ades.  The  danger  of  a  social  revolution  or  a  prole¬ 
tarian  uprising  has  been  removed  for  at  least  a  decade, 
probably  for  a  generation.  This,  not  only  because  of 
the  new  feeling  of  solidarity  produced  by  the  recent 
experience,  but  also  because  for  several  years  ahead 
there  is  bound  to  be  plenty  of  employment  for  every 
one  willing  and  able  to  work. 

New,  throbbing,  intellectual  life,  moreover,  can 
hardly  fail  to  come  out  of  the  experience.  Men  of 
all  classes  have  been  set  thinking.  A  new  interest  in 
others  has  been  aroused  which  will  surely  stimulate 
thought  and  activity  along  new  lines. 

The  great  European  War,  distant  though  it  was, 
was  a  powerful  mental  stimulus  to  the  nation.  Now 
comes  an  overwhelming  calamity  right  to  themselves, 
in  some  respects  more  terrible  than  war ;  the  experience 
was  absolutely  universal  to  all  in  the  region  affected; 
men,  women  and  children  were  buried  in  the  ruins  and 
then  burned  alive  by  scores  of  thousands  before  the 
very  eyes  of  their  immediate  kindred,  who  themselves 
barely  escaped  the  same  awful  fate. 

XII 

The  moral  and  spiritual  life  of  Japan,  also,  will 
surely  be  deeply  stirred  and  quickened  by  this  experi¬ 
ence.  When  men  prosper  and  flourish ;  when  they  look 
with  pride  on  the  work  of  their  hands ;  when  they  enjoy 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  45 


the  comforts  and  the  pleasures  of  living  and  feel  how 
great  and  important  they  are,  their  moral  and  religious 
life  runs  low ;  they  forget  how  weak  and  helpless  they 
really  are:  they  forget  God,  the  Creator  of  Nature, 
the  Ruler  of  nations  and  the  Father  of  men.  But  when 
Nature  breaks  loose  upon  them  in  flood  and  fire  and 
earthquake,  men  discover  again  their  own  intrinsic  in¬ 
significance  and  weakness.  They  realize  that  they  are 
but  helpless,  miserable  worms,  of  no  more  significance 
or  value  in  the  realm  of  the  physical  than  insects  that 
live  but  a  day  and  perish  by  the  myriad. 

Men’s  hearts  and  minds,  however,  resent  this  con¬ 
clusion.  In  their  innermost  being  they  will  not  accept 
or  believe  that  man  is  nothing  more  than  the  beast. 
They  demand  a  universe  that  is,  at  bottom,  rational 
and  moral  and  just.  The  very  nature  within  them 
calls  for  a  divine  power  above  them  and  above  Nature, 
a  God  who  is  powerful  and  just  and  true,  a  God  who 
is  also  a  Father,  to  whom  they  can  look  in  worship, 
on  whom  they  can  call  for  help,  with  whom  they  can 
commune  as  .spirit  with  spirit  and  from  whom  they 
can  receive  courage  and  hope  and  peace,  in  spite  of  an 
unfriendly  world.  Man  is  incurably  religious.  Faith 
in  God  is  an  essential  element  in  his  being.  Frail 
and  helpless  and  even  sinful  though  he  be,  in  times 
of  distress  and  disaster  man  feels  instinctively  his 
essential  kinship  with  the  divine  and  seeks  to  make 
that  feeling  clear  and  articulate  and  rational.  He  be¬ 
lieves  and  he  must  believe  in  the  imperishable  reality 
and  the  intrinsic  worth  of  goodness  and  justice,  truth 
and  love,  in  spite  of  a  world  that  at  times  seems  to 


46 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


make  such  a  belief  foolishness  and  a  life  built  upon 
it  folly. 

Now  it  is  an  amazing  fact  that  when  Nature  presents 
her  utmost  denials  of  this  faith  the  very  contradiction 
forces  man  to  its  fresh  expression.  Great  calamities 
have  always  tended  to  bring  out  the  best  in  man,  not 
only  in  helpfulness  to  fellow-men  but  in  trust  and  faith 
in  God.  Not  otherwise  will  it  be  in  Japan.  For  the 
Japanese  people  are  an  essentially  religious  race.  Their 
land,  at  once  so  beautiful  and  yet  so  terrible,  so  often 
visited  by  fearful  fires  and  frightful  floods,  by  ter¬ 
rific  tornadoes  and  terrifying  earthquakes,  has  bred 
deep  into  their  natures  elements  of  mysticism  and  of 
faith  which  constitute  such  vital  factors  in  religion. 

Japan’s  baptism  of  suffering  and  sorrow  will  surely 
turn  her  millions  to  renewed  manifestations  of  re¬ 
ligion.  The  religious  stimulus,  moreover,  which  she 
has  been  receiving  from  Christendom  during  the  past 
half  century  has  been  widely  influencing  the  direction 
of  the  religious  thought  and  feeling  of  the  entire 
people,  although  that  which  has  been  taking  place  has 
been  quite  unrecognized  by  the  vast  majority  of  the 
people.  This  religious  influence  from  Christianity  and 
from  Christendom  have  been  widely  and  deeply  affect¬ 
ing  the  entire  nation  and  will  unquestionably  constitute 
an  important  factor  in  molding  and  directing  their  new 
religious  expressions. 

Religious  discontent,  with  fresh  .and  oftentimes  fan¬ 
tastic  manifestations  of  religious  fervor,  have  been 
marked  features  in  the  spiritual  life  of  Japan  for  a 
decade  and  more.  The  optimism  of  the  Christian  faith 
has  made  a  profound  impress  on  the  nation,  in  spite  of, 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  47 


or  possibly  because  of,  the  essential  pessimism  of 
Buddhism. 

The  present,  bitter  experience  of  the  nation,  the 
prompt  and  generous  sympathy  of  Christian  America, 
and  their  own  immediate  reaction  displaying  invincible 
courage  and  hope,  cannot  fail  to  have  profound  effects 
during  the  decades  ahead  on  the  religious  life  of  the 
people.  The  seed  of  the  Gospel,  faithfully  sown  dur¬ 
ing  the  past  five  decades,  will  now  bear  fruit  in  a  rich 
harvest.  But  whether  the  people  flock  into  the  churches 
or  not,  as  a  whole  they  will  move  forward  into  a  larger 
and  deeper,  a  purer  and  richer  religious  life. 

XIII 

The  opportunity  for  service  by  Christian  America 
is  extraordinarily  great.  The  first  step  in  that  service 
has  been  rendered  by  our  immediate  response  for  the 
relief  of  physical  suffering.  This  has  deeply  touched 
the  heart  of  the  nation.  We  have  now  shown  in  deeds 
what  some  of  us  have  been  saying  in  words :  that  the 
American  people  have  high  regard  for  Japan  and  wish 
her  well.  The  scurrilous  attacks  and  sinister  accusa¬ 
tions  of  certain  politicians,  editors,  and  novelists,  who 
have  been  seeking  to  arouse  race  prejudice  and  ill-will, 
do  not  correctly  represent  the  great  mass  of  our  re¬ 
sponsible  citizenship.  A  better  era  in  these  respects 
should  surely  come  out  of  our  recent  experiences. 

But  we  must  not  rest  satisfied  with  what  has  been 
done.  For  a  decade  Japan  will  still  be  struggling  to 
make  good  her  losses.  A  great  foreign  debt  will  no 
doubt  be  incurred.  To  meet  it  heavy  taxes  must  be 
raised.  She  will  need  to  expand  her  export  as  well  as 


48 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


her  import  trade.  Every  legitimate  privilege  and  op¬ 
portunity  of  trading  with  this  land  of  fabulous  wealth 
may  well  be  granted  her. 

Though  we  cannot  open  our  doors  for  Japanese 
immigration,  should  we  not  at  this  time  remove  from 
our  statute  books  all  laws  that  deny  to  those  already 
lawfully  here  the  same  treatment  and  same  civil  rights 
granted  to  aliens  of  other  races  and  nations? 

Why  might  we  not  change  our  naturalization  law, 
raising  the  standard  and  then  granting  the  privilege  to 
every  person  who  duly  qualifies,  regardless  of  race? 
The  present  law  has  recently  been  interpreted  by  our 
Supreme  Court  as  granting  the  right  of  citizenship 
only  to  Caucasians  and  to  Negroes.  Why  may  we  not 
remove  all  distinctions  and  give  the  same  privilege  and 
right  to  every  man  who  is  worthy  and  who  wishes  to 
be  a  citizen  of  this  great  nation  ?  This  single  act  would 
remove  the  principal  remaining  source  of  irritation  and 
resentment  widely  held  in  Japan  against  us;  for  our 
present  law  is  naturally  and  inevitably  regarded  as  a 
humiliating  implication  of  race  inferiority.  Does 
America  intend  or  need  to  say  that  a  Japanese  indi¬ 
vidual,  merely  because  he  is  of  the  Japanese  race,  is  not 
fit  for  citizenship  in  this  Republic?  Such  a  change  in 
our  naturalization  law,  it  should  be  remembered,  would 
not  have  the  slightest  effect  on  matters  of  immigration. 

But  there  is  also  another  unfortunate  situation  that 
needs  prompt  rectification.  When  America  entered  the 
great  war,  Congress  passed  a  law  entitling  all  aliens 
who  entered  our  army  to  secure  citizenship  without 
waiting  for  the  five-year  period  of  residence  and  with¬ 
out  regard  to  other  matters  of  red  tape.  It  was  felt 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  49 


that  any  one  who  was  ready  to  risk  his  life  for  the 
United  States  was  worthy  of  citizenship.  Under 
these  conditions  many  thousands  of  young  men  of 
many  nationalities  became  citizens  in  a  very  short  time. 

In  the  Hawaiian  Islands  some  seven  hundred  Japa¬ 
nese  aliens  entered  the  army.  In  due  course,  nearly 
one  half  of  them  took  out  citizenship  papers.  Some 
anti- Japanese  agitators,  however,  are  contending  that 
the  law  did  not  mean  to  admit  Asiatics.  On  the  strength 
of  this  interpretation  some  Japanese  have  been  de¬ 
prived  of  those  citizenship  papers  by  Pacific  Coast 
Courts.  This  is  a  matter  that  is  deeply  felt  by  Japa¬ 
nese,  not  only  by  those  immediately  affected  but  by  the 
entire  Japanese  public.  For  they  naturally  interpret 
it  as  imputation  to  Japanese  of  race  inferiority  and  as 
evidence  of  arrogant  race  prejudice  in  America.  Surely 
this  is  a  matter  that  should  be  promptly  rectified. 

But  financial  aid  for  physical  relief  and  the  rectifica¬ 
tion  of  unfriendly  legal  relations  do  not  complete  our 
duties  nor  exhaust  our  opportunities.  Scores  of  Chris¬ 
tian  institutions  have  been  badly  wrecked,  if  not 
utterly  destroyed  by  fire;  churches,  colleges,  asylums, 
reform  homes  and  hospitals. 

For  the  building  of  these  institutions  during  the  past 
decades  Japanese  Christians  in  spite  of  their  poverty 
have  contributed  many  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dol¬ 
lars,  along  with  large  amounts  contributed  by  American 
Christians.  For  their  prompt  rebuilding  there  is 
urgent  need,  especially  for  the  churches  and  the  col¬ 
leges.  One  really  efficient,  well  equipped  and  well 
endowed  Christian  University  can  accomplish  vastly 
more  for  the  Christian  movement  in  Japan  than  half 


50 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


a  dozen  struggling  colleges,  each  seeking  to  do  in  its 
own  little  way  university  grade  work.  And  in  the 
rebuilding  of  city  churches,  might  not  the  Mission 
Boards,  in  conference  with  Japanese  Christian  leaders, 
plan  their  distribution  with  primary  reference  to  the 
spiritual  needs  of  the  population?  This  may  well  be 
the  time  for  significant  forward  movements  in  denom¬ 
inational  cooperation  and  perhaps  even  unification, 
especially  in  colleges  and  theological  schools. 

If  only  at  this  time  the  Christian  forces  might  sink 
denominational  interests  and  the  sectarian  spirit  and 
approach  the  new  task  and  the  new  opportunity  as  a 
single  body  with  a  new  spirit  and  a  new,  common 
program,  the  gain  for  the  churches  and  for  the  entire 
Christian  movement  would  be  immeasurable. 

Christianity  has  a  new  opportunity  in  Japan.  Will 
the  Christians  of  America  and  Great  Britain  have  the 
vision  to  see  it  and  the  grace  to  use  it  ? 

XIV 

In  closing  this  brief  survey  and  interpretation  of  the 
greatest  calamity  in  history,  next  only  to  the  flood 
recorded  in  Genesis,  let  us  note  that  the  real  way  to 
establish  goodwill  and  peace  between  nations  is  by 
friendly  deeds  of  mutual  help.  “Be  not  overcome  of 
evil  but  overcome  evil  with  good”  is  not  only  sound 
morality  and  real  religion  but  the  best  of  “prepared¬ 
ness.”  Forty  million  dollars  spent  on  a  superdread¬ 
nought  or  on  submarines  or  aeroplanes  are  not  one 
quarter  or  one  tenth  as  effective  in  maintaining  peace 
as  the  same  amount  expended  in  deeds  of  helpfulness 
and  goodwill.  When  difficulties  arise  between  na- 


GREAT  EARTHQUAKE  AND  FIRE  IN  JAPAN  51 


tions,  as  arise  they  will,  they  can  easily  be  solved  if 
there  is  a  spirit  of  mutual  goodwill.  If  there  is  illwill 
and  suspicion,  they  can  hardly  be  solved  at  all. 

Let  Christian  America  practice  this  principle  more 
and  more.  The  only  cure  for  the  manifold  ills  of 
modern  life,  for  the  strife  of  class  with  class  and  of 
nation  with  nation,  is  the  practice  of  the  Christian  ideals 
of  brotherhood  and  service.  We  need  men  inspired 
and  controlled  by  the  spirit  of  Jesus  to  lead  our  people 
in  solving  the  problems  of  capital  and  labor,  of  nation 
and  nation^  and  of  race  and  race.  Unless  His  spirit 
and  His  will  possess  our  leaders  not  only,  but  the  rank 
and  file  of  our  citizens,  our  country  is  doomed ;  and  the 
world  is  doomed.  Destruction  and  disaster  worse  than 
earthquakes  and  fires  lie  ahead. 

But  the  experiences  of  September,  1923,  give  ground 
for  hope.  In  the  midst  of  dark  clouds  a  bright  rain¬ 
bow  has  suddenly  revealed  its  magic  beauty  in  the  sky. 
Spanning  the  high  vault  of  heaven  above  the  mightiest 
of  the  oceans,  it  casts  its  rays  of  hope  on  both  shores 
and  creates  in  both  peoples  a  new  spirit  of  mutual  con¬ 
fidence  and  goodwill. 

“Be  not  overcome  of  evil  but  overcome  evil  with 
good.”  “Bear  ye  one  another’s  burdens  and  so  fulfill 
the  law  of  Christ.”  “Let  those  that  are  strong  bear 
the  burden  of  the  weak.” 


Chapter  II 

THE  SPECIAL  MISSION  TO  THE  FAR  EAST 

THE  Special  Mission  to  the  Churches  of  the 
Far  East  was  constituted  by  an  act  of  the  Ad¬ 
ministrative  Committee  of  July  14,  1922.*  Dr.  John  H. 
Finley  and  the  writer,  chairman  and  secretary  respec¬ 
tively  of  the  Federal  Council’s  Commission  on  Inter¬ 
national  Justice  and  Goodwill,  were  asked  to  serve  as 
the  members  of  the  Mission.  The  writer,  being  also 
the  secretary  on  Oriental  Relations  of  the  American 
Council  of  the  World  Alliance  for  International  Friend¬ 
ship  through  the  Churches,  was  authorized  by  that 
body’s  Executive  Committee  to  carry  its  greetings  to 
the  Churches  and  Christians  of  the  Far  East  and  to 
take  such  actions  as  would  promote  the  interests  of  the 
World  Alliance  in  the  Far  East.  A  leave  of  absence 
was  also  granted  to  the  writer  by  the  National  Com¬ 
mittee  on  American- Japanese  Relations,  of  which  he 
is  secretary,  with  instructions  to  render  such  service 
as  might  be  practicable  for  promoting  mutual  under¬ 
standing,  goodwill  and  right  relations  between  these 
two  countries.  These  three  bodies,  together  with  the 
Committee  of  the  Kumiai  (Congregational)  Church 
of  Japan  cooperated  in  providing  the  expenses  for  the 
extended  trip. 

*  See  Appendix  I. 


52 


THE  SPECIAL  MISSION  TO  THE  FAR  EAST  53 


At  the  time  of  the  establishment  of  the  Mission,  it 
was  known  that  Dr.  Finley  would  be  unable  to  start 
at  once  but  it  was  expected  that  he  would  be  able  to 
visit  the  Far  East  during  the  winter  and  it  was  thought 
desirable  that  the  writer  should  reach  the  Orient  early 
in  the  autumn  in  order  to  make  a  more  careful  study 
of  the  entire  situation  than  a  hurried  visit  would  per¬ 
mit.  He  accordingly  sailed  from  San  Francisco 
September  6,  1922,  and  after  less  than  a  week  in 
central  Japan  went  on  to  China  for  his  first  extended 
visit  in  that  great  land.  He  carefully  explained  to  all 
that,  until  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Finley,  his  own  movements 
and  actions  were  entirely  unofficial.  He  sought  to  make 
the  needful  preparations,  so  that  when  Dr.  Finley 
should  arrive  the  official  visit  of  the  Mission  might  be 
as  effective  as  possible  within  the  brief  time  that  Dr. 
Finley  would  have  for  this  work. 

That  Dr.  Finley’s  duties  in  New  York  were  so  im¬ 
perative  that  he  would  be  unable  to  get  away,  and  that 
whatever  was  done  by  the  Mission  would  have  to  be 
done  by  the  writer  alone,  did  not  become  clear  until 
January.  This  permitted  the  writer  to  extend  his 
unofficial  visit  to  southern  China  as  well  as  to  northern 
and  central  China,  and  also  to  make  a  short  trip  to  the 
Philippine  Islands. 

During  the  autumn,  union  committees  were  set  up 
in  Japan  and  China  representing  both  the  Churches  and 
the  missionaries,  which  committees  were  to  take  full 
charge  of  the  meetings  and  the  movements  of  your 
special  Mission.  When  it  proved  impossible  for  Dr. 
Finley  to  come,  these  union  committees  decided  that 


54 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


the  writer  would  better  carry  through  the  program 
alone. 

The  official  visit  of  the  Mission  accordingly  began  in 
Tokyo  early  in  February.  Two  months  were  devoted 
to  a  carefully  planned  trip  to  the  (twenty-five)  main 
cities  of  the  Japanese  Empire.  Two  weeks  in  April  were 
spent  in  Korea  and  four  weeks  in  China.  Steamer 
connections  forced  the  writer  to  spend  three  additional 
weeks  in  May  and  early  June  in  Japan.  However,  this 
was  probably  the  most  important  part  of  his  visit  in 
that  land. 


THE  MESSAGE 


The  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in 
America  to  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  China 

Greetings : 

The  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ 
in  America,  on  behalf  of  its  thirty  constituent  denom¬ 
inations  has  commissioned  two  of  its  members  to  serve 
as  a  Mission  to  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  China  and 
Japan. 

Dr.  John  H.  Finley,  Chairman  of  our  Commission 
on  International  Justice  and  Goodwill,  is  one  of  our 
distinguished  American  citizens,  having  held  many 
posts  of  State  and  National  responsibility. 

Dr.  Sidney  L.  Gulick  was  for  many  years  a  Mis¬ 
sionary  in  Japan.  For  nine  years  he  has  been  retained 
by  this  Council  as  Secretary  of  its  Commissions  on 
International  Justice  and  Goodwill  and  on  Relations 
with  the  Orient,  in  both  of  which  offices  he  has  ren¬ 
dered  efficient  service. 

Inasmuch  as  Dr.  Finley’s  visit  will  necessarily  be 
brief  and  somewhat  delayed,  Dr.  Gulick  will  precede 
him,  and  will  be  able  to  confer  with  you  with  less  hurry 
and  with  more  fullness.  We  bespeak  for  our  repre¬ 
sentatives  your  assistance  and  cooperation  in  their 
efforts  to  familiarize  themselves  with  the  facts  and 
problems  of  China’s  religious  development  as  affected 
by  international  conditions  and  relations.  We  greatly 
need  the  information  and  suggestions  which  you  can 
give  them,  in  order  that  we  in  America  may  be  better 

55 


56 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


able  to  do  our  part  in  promoting  mutual  understanding 
and  goodwill  between  our  peoples,  in  making  more  ef¬ 
fective  the  processes  of  international  cooperation  in 
every  good  work,  and  in  securing  a  more  complete 
knowledge  and  a  more  general  and  sympathetic  support 
of  the  endeavors  of  Christians  and  Churches  to  achieve 
a  Warless  World.  This  high  ideal,  we  are  convinced, 
can  come  only  through  the  reconciliation  of  the  nations 
in  their  moral  and  spiritual  life,  and  in  the  creation  of 
much-needed  international  institutions  fitted  to  estab¬ 
lish  and  to  maintain  for  all  nations  and  all  peoples 
alike,  justice,  honor,  security  and  fair  economic  oppor¬ 
tunity. 

We  are  profoundly  convinced  that  the  achievement 
of  these  high  ideals,  and  the  effective  establishment  and 
successful  functioning  of  these  important  institutions 
depend  primarily  on  the  presence  in  each  land  of  mil¬ 
lions  of  citizens  of  high  moral  character  and  clear 
understanding  of  the  vital  problems  of  modern  life; 
citizens  who  will  set  justice,  truthfulness,  honesty,  fair 
dealing,  and  unselfish  service  in  international  relations 
above  personal  and  national  gain.  Such  citizens  are 
essential  if  we  are  ever  to  develop  an  effective  public 
opinion  to  support  these  statesmen  in  each  land  who 
will  determine  the  international  policies  of  their  re¬ 
spective  Governments  by  these  broad  principles  of 
universal  justice  and  humanity. 

In  the  creation  of  these  citizens  of  International  out¬ 
look  and  purpose  we  believe  the  Churches  have  an  in¬ 
escapable  responsibility  as  well  as  a  great  opportunity. 
We  earnestly  desire  to  do  our  part  here  in  America  as 
we  believe  that  you  will  do  your  part  in  your  own  land 
in  developing  citizens  of  this  character  and  spirit. 

We  pray  that  in  your  land  as  in  ours,  faith  and  love 
and  joy  in  our  spiritual  life  may  grow  from  more  to 
more;  that  our  minds  may  be  illumined  by  the  spirit  of 


THE  SPECIAL  MISSION  TO  THE  FAR  EAST  57 


Christ  to  see  and  to  understand  the  truth ;  and  that  our 
wills  may  be  strengthened  to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of 
our  Lord  and  Master  in  every  form  of  unselfish  service 
for  our  fellow-men. 

May  the  God  of  Love  unite  our  hearts  and  bring  us 
all  into  the  joy  of  fellowship  with  one  another  through 
that  diviner  fellowship  which  is  with  the  Father  and 
with  his  Son  our  Saviour. 

May  peace  and  prosperity  abide  in  all  the  homes  of 
China.  May  your  schools  be  centers  of  light,  helping 
the  people  to  solve  the  complex  intellectual  and  prac¬ 
tical  problems  of  modern  civilization.  May  your 
Churches  be  centers  of  moral  and  spiritual  power,  guid¬ 
ing  men  and  women  to  those  sources  of  insight  and 
inspiration  by  which  to  achieve  the  inner  life  of  spiritual 
self-mastery  and  self-devotion  in  holy  and  unselfish 
service  of  country  and  humanity.  May  believers  be 
multiplied  and  may  all  your  land  be  blessed  by  Him  who 
is  the  light  of  the  world,  the  Redeemer  of  men. 

Rejoicing  in  our  common  fellowship  of  faith  and 
service  through  Jesus  Christ,  trusting  in  the  guidance 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  praying  the  Heavenly  Father 
to  grant  to  us  all  His  richest  blessings  in  our  personal 
lives,  in  the  developing  relations  and  character  of  our 
peoples,  and  in  our  common  work  in  promoting  His 
rule  among  men  and  nations, 

Your  fellow-workers  in  the  Kingdom  of  God  and  of 
His  Christ, 

(Signed)  Robert  E.  Speer, 

President, 

(Signed)  Charles  S.  Macfarland, 

General  Secretary. 


58 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


The  Message  from  the  Federal  Council  to  the 
Churches  of  the  Far  East  constituted  the  starting  point 
of  the  writer’s  approach  both  to  Christian  and  non- 
Christian  audiences.  It  was  translated  into  Chinese, 
Japanese  and  Korean,  and  naturally  varied  slightly  for 
the  various  countries.  In  practically  every  city  visited 
on  the  official  trip,  a  union  service  of  the  Churches  was 
held  at  which  it  was  read  in  full  or  in  part,  after  being 
officially  handed  to  the  Chairman  by  the  writer,  as  the 
messenger  of  the  Federal  Council.  The  topic  of  his 
address  at  these  union  meetings  was  “The  Churches 
and  a  Warless  World.”  He  told  of  the  peace  movement 
of  the  West,  of  the  Federal  Council  and  its  Commis¬ 
sions,  especially  describing  the  Commission  on  Inter¬ 
national  Justice  and  Goodwill;  of  the  origin  of  the 
Church  Peace  Union;  of  the  formation  of  the  World 
Alliance  for  International  Friendship  through  the 
Churches  at  the  very  beginning  of  the  Great  War;  of 
the  new  tide  of  thought  and  conviction  developing  in 
the  Churches  of  the  West  that  the  time  has  come  for 
a  world-wide  cooperative  effort  of  Christians  and 
Churches  for  the  substitution  of  law  for  war  and  for 
the  outlawing  and  abolishment  of  war  through  the 
establishment  of  the  necessary  institutions  of  jus¬ 
tice;  of  the  work  of  the  American  Churches  in  relation 
to  the  Washington  Conference,  and  of  the  new  “Ten- 
Year  Campaign  for  a  Warless  World.”  Effort  was 
made  in  all  the  addresses  to  enlist  the  interest  and  secure 
the  determination  of  all  Christians  and  Churches,  local 
and  national,  to  have  a  part  in  this  new,  world-program 
of  the  Church  Universal. 

In  cities  where  the  missionaries  constitute  a  con- 


THE  SPECIAL  MISSION  TO  THE  FAR  EAST  59 


siderable  group,  meetings  were  held  especially  for  them. 
In  every  city  having  Union  English-speaking  Churches, 
the  writer  was  asked  to  preach. 

In  nearly  every  case,  after  completion  of  the  address 
on  the  Message,  a  representative  of  the  local  Christian 
body  would  make  a  response  expressing  their  interest 
and  pledging  their  cooperation.  In  a  few  cases  these 
responses  had  been  carefully  written  and,  after  being 
read,  were  handed  to  the  writer 


Chapter  III 


DELIVERING  THE  MESSAGE  IN  THE  PHILIP¬ 
PINE  ISLANDS,  KOREA,  AND  CHINA 

Delivering  the  Message  in  the  Philippine  Islands 

THE  visit  to  the  Philippine  Islands  was  confined 
to  a  single  week  in  January.  In  that  period  the 
writer  met  several  of  the  principal  men  of  the  Islands, 
leaders  in  Christian  work,  pastors  and  missionaries, 
Filipino  business  men,  professors  (American  and  Fili¬ 
pino)  and  government  officials,  also  Filipino  and  Ameri¬ 
can.  The  conversations  with  each  group  corresponded 
with  their  respective  interests  and  expert  knowledge. 
At  the  end  of  the  week  the  writer  felt  that  he  had 
secured  a  large  amount  of  rather  exact  and  well- 
balanced  information  and  a  fair  acquaintance  with  the 
various  viewpoints  of  the  diverse  interests  in  the  Islands 
— officials,  business  men,  governmental  officials,  educa¬ 
tionists  and  religious  workers,  both  Protestant  and 
Roman  Catholic.* 

He  addressed  the  Philippine  Columbia  Association  on 

“Japan  and  the  Philippines,”  and  lectured  before  a  large 

audience  of  Americans  on  the  Liberal  Movement  in 

Japan.  He  spoke  before  the  Rotary  Club  and  two  other 

special  groups.  He  made  addresses  also  at  the  Y.  M. 

*  The  names  of  the  important  Filipinos  and  Americans  met  are 
given  in  Appendix  III. 


60 


DELIVERING  THE  MESSAGE 


61 


C.  A.  morning  chapel  exercises,  and  before  the  Evan¬ 
gelical  Union.  He  had  the  privilege  of  addressing  the 
faculty  and  students  of  the  National  University  and  of 
the  Union  Theological  College;  also  the  Central  and 
the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Churches,  the  Union 
(American)  Church,  and  the  congregation  of  the  Japa¬ 
nese  Christian  Church,  to  whom  he  spoke  in  their  own 
tongue. 

The  first  opportunity  for  officially  conveying  the 
Message  of  the  Federal  Council  to  a  Church  in  the 
Far  East  came  in  Manila.  The  Evangelical  Union 
represents  the  various  Protestant  denominations  in  the 
Philippine  Islands.  Being  only  recently  formed  it  was 
not  yet  functioning  very  actively.  A  special  meeting, 
however,  was  convened  by  the  Executive  Committee  of 
its  members  in  Manila,  where  the  Message  was  pre¬ 
sented  and  an  address  was  delivered  regarding  its 
nature,  stressing  the  importance  of  having  in  this  sec¬ 
tion  of  the  world  a  branch  of  the  World  Alliance  for 
International  Friendship  through  the  Churches,  in 
order  that  the  Churches  and  Christians  of  these  Islands 
might  have  their  part  in  the  world  movement  of  the 
Church  to  abolish  war. 

Delivering  the  Message  in  Korea 

The  visit  to  Korea  followed  the  second  visit  to  Japan. 
Two  weeks  in  early  spring  were  spent  in  Taiku,  Seoul, 
Pyeng  Yang,  and  Syenchun.  Throughout  this  trip 
Mr.  S.  Niwa,  secretary  of  the  Japanese  Y.  M.  C.  A.  in 
Korea,  and  also  the  Rev.  Paul  T.  Tsuga,  accompanied 
the  writer.  To  Mr.  Niwa  he  owes  much  for  the  valu¬ 
able  contacts  made,  especially  in  Seoul.  In  each  place 


62 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


he  was  entertained  in  the  home  of  a  missionary.  This 
gave  opportunities  for  confidential  conferences  that 
were  invaluable,  for  through  the  missionaries,  he 
had  close  access  to  the  thought  and  experience  of  the 
Korean  people. 

As  a  messenger  of  goodwill,  his  primary  duty  was 
the  transmission  of  his  Message  as  effectively  as  pos¬ 
sible,  in  ways  that  would  commend  both  himself  and 
the  Message  to  all  right  thinking  people  without  as 
well  as  within  the  Churches.  Every  facility  was  put 
at  his  disposal  to  familiarize  himself  with  the  general 
situation.  He  earnestly  sought  information  from 
Koreans  as  well  as  from  missionaries  and  Japanese. 
As  a  result  he  learned  many  things  first-hand  from 
the  principal  leaders — Korean,  missionary  and  Japa¬ 
nese — laymen,  pastors  and  government  officials. 

The  meetings  of  chief  significance  were  held  natu¬ 
rally  in  Seoul.  Here  the  Message  and  the  address 
upon  it  were  delivered  three  times.  The  largest  meet¬ 
ing  was  the  union  Korean  service  held  in  the  Korean 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  building  at  which  some  seven  or  eight 
hundred  representatives  of  the  various  city  churches 
crowded  the  hall  to  its  utmost  limits,  some  two  hun¬ 
dred  being  compelled  to  stand  through  the  long  meet¬ 
ing.  The  interpreter  was  Dr.  Hugh  Cynn,  who  several 
years  ago  in  New  York  met  the  members  of  the  Federal 
Council’s  Commission  on  Relations  with  the  Orient. 
The  writer  is  satisfied  that  the  address  lost  nothing 
through  the  interpretation. 

The  Message  was  translated  by  Dr.  Cynn  into 
Korean  and  printed  as  a  leaflet.  It  was  distributed  at 


DELIVERING  THE  MESSAGE  63 

this  meeting  and  arrangements  were  later  made  to  dis¬ 
tribute  it  widely  throughout  the  country. 

The  Message  was  also  delivered  to  a  large  audience 
consisting  mostly  of  Japanese  with  a  sprinkling  of 
Koreans  and  Occidentals,  the  address  being  given  in 
Japanese.  At  a  special  meeting  for  missionaries  your 
representative  described  the  work  and  purposes  of  the 
Federal  Council  and  the  World  Alliance  for  Interna¬ 
tional  Friendship,  and  the  significance  and  aim  of  this 
official  visit  representing  these  bodies. 

Fourteen  addresses — about  one  half  in  Japanese — 
were  made  in  Seoul  during  the  week  there.  Several 
important  conferences  took  place  at  luncheons  and 
dinners  arranged  for  by  the  Governor  General,  by  the 
International  Friendly  Association  of  Chosen  and 
again  by  its  officers,  by  the  “Luncheon  Club,”  by  Jap¬ 
anese  Christians  and  by  a  special  group  of  Christian 
Japanese  Government  officials.  At  private  homes  a 
goodly  number  of  important  leaders  were  also  met. 
The  addresses  dealt  not  only  with  our  constructive 
program  for  a  War  less  World,  but  also  with  various 
phases  of  international  relations  and,  by  request  on 
three  occasions,  with  the  California-Japanese  question. 

The  meetings  in  Taiku,  Pyeng  Yang  and  Syenchun 
need  no  special  description.  At  Syenchun  the  audiences, 
as  anticipated,  were  so  large  that  a  session  was  held 
for  the  six  or  seven  hundred  women  in  the  afternoon 
and  one  for  the  men  in  the  evening  when  some  twelve 
hundred  crowded  into  the  South  Church.  The  pastor 
who  had  studied  a  few  years  in  Japan  was  the  inter¬ 
preter;  the  writer  delivered  his  address  in  Japanese. 


64 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


Delivering  the  Message  in  China 

The  visit  to  China  falls  into  two  parts,  the  prelim¬ 
inary  unofficial  trip  of  three  months  beginning  in 
October  and  covering  fourteen  cities;  and  the  official 
trip  which  began  in  April  and  lasted  five  weeks,  includ¬ 
ing  seven  cities  of  the  first  visit  and  adding  two  new 
ones.  In  both  trips  the  writer  was  entertained  in  the 
homes  of  missionaries,  not  having  been  to  a  hotel  for 
a  single  night.  The  value  of  opportunities  thus  secured 
for  intimate  acquaintance,  free  discussion  and  con¬ 
fidential  information  of  the  highest  significance,  cannot 
easily  be  expressed.  If  the  writer  has  secured  any 
insight  into  the  extraordinarily  complex  situation  in 
China,  it  has  been  due  more  to  personal  intercourse  in 
the  homes  than  to  any  formal  conferences,  important 
though  these  have  been. 

The  travel  schedule  for  the  first  trip,  with  the  intro¬ 
ductions  and  arrangements  for  entertainment  were 
made  by  Mr.  W.  W.  Lockwood,  one  of  the  efficient 
secretaries  of  the  Shanghai  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Never  had 
the  writer  felt  so  helpless  in  foreign  travel  as  in  China. 
The  countless  courtesies  and  thoughtfulness  of  all  who 
cared  for  him  and  passed  him  along  from  city  to  city 
were  the  more  deeply  appreciated. 

During  the  period  of  the  informal  trip  he  was  care¬ 
ful  to  make  clear  the  exact  situation  with  regard  to  the 
expected  later  arrival  of  Dr.  Finley.  He  was  fre¬ 
quently  called  on  for  addresses  or  sermons  but  took 
pains  to  deal  with  topics  so  chosen  as  not  to  trench  on 
the  Message  to  be  delivered  later.  Among  the  sixty- 
one  addresses  in  churches  and  colleges  and  to  mission- 


DELIVERING  THE  MESSAGE 


65 


ary  groups,  subjects  often  called  for  were  “The  Lib¬ 
eral  Movement  in  Japan,”  “America  and  the  League  of 
Nations,”  and  “The  Washington  Conference.” 

During  the  official  trip  the  Message  was  everywhere 
the  center  of  the  meetings  and  of  the  addresses.  A 
committee  of  the  National  Christian  Council  prepared 
the  way  for  the  second  trip,  arrangements  being  made 
in  every  city  visited  for  the  formation  of  a  local  union 
committee  under  whose  auspices  the  official  meetings 
were  held  for  the  delivery  of  the  Message.  The  trans¬ 
lated  Message  with  advance  publicity  had  been  sent  out 
by  the  Shanghai  committee  to  leaders  in  the  various 
centers.  These  official  meetings  as  a  rule  were  not 
large,  being  made  up  of  representatives  from  the 
various  local  churches.  There  were,  however,  a  few 
mass  meetings,  the  largest  being  at  Wuchang.  Some 
four  hundred  Christians  were  present  on  a  Sunday 
afternoon  at  the  spacious  Trinity  Church.  In  Tientsin 
and  in  Peking  the  Christian  leaders  welcomed  the 
writer  with  a  banquet,  at  the  close  of  which  the  Mes¬ 
sage  was  transmitted  with  the  usual  address.  Every¬ 
where  his  addresses  were  heard  with  evident  attention 
and  interest.* 


*  The  writer’s  indebtedness  to  many  score  of  missionaries  for 
information  and  suggestion  is  so  extensive  that  the  mere  list  of 
their  names  would  be  hardly  suitable  for  such  a  brief  report  as 
this  must  be,  while  to  select  a  few  as  the  outstanding  names 
would  hardly  be  fair.  It  seems  better  therefore  not  to  attempt 
it.  The  number,  however,  of  the  Chinese,  Japanese  and  others 
met  and  conferred  with,  is  not  so  large  but  that  it  may  well  be 
given.  It  will  be  found  in  Appendix  III,  p.  153.  The  number 
of  addresses  delivered  on  this  second  trip  was  forty-eight.  Even 
the  list  of  the  places  in  which,  or  the  groups  to  which  they  were 
made  would  be  tedious  and  is  hardly  needful. 


66 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


The  local  committees  likewise  arranged  in  most  places 
for  him  to  address  schools,  colleges  and  theological 
seminaries  on  the  general  subject  of  the  Church  and  a 
Warless  World.  A  special  meeting  was  usually  held 
also  for  the  missionaries. 


Chapter  IV 

DELIVERING  THE  MESSAGE  IN  JAPAN 


THE  writer  was  in  Japan  for  three  different 
periods — mid-autumn,  late  winter  and  early 
summer,  the  official  visit  being  in  the  winter.  During 
the  third  period  a  number  of  farewell  functions  were 
given  him  by  the  Churches,  by  the  Peace  Societies,  and 
by  the  Japanese- American  Relations  Committee.  The 
main  contacts  were  made  during  the  second  and  third 
visits,  which  extended  from  the  extreme  north  to  the 
extreme  south  of  the  Empire  and  included  practically 
all  the  major  cities  and  towns. 

In  the  autumn  a  union  committee  was  formed,  repre¬ 
senting  the  Federated  Churches,  the  Federated  Missions 
and  the  Japanese  Branch  of  the  World  Alliance  for 
International  Friendship  through  the  Churches,  which 
set  up  in  each  city  local  committees  under  whose 
auspices  all  the  meetings,  addresses  and  conferences 
were  arranged. 

Cooperation  of  Business  Men  and  Local  Officials 

Since  the  writer  is  also  secretary  of  the  National 
Committee  on  American-Japanese  Relations,  which  has 
headquarters  in  New  York,  and  of  which  the  Hon. 
George  W.  Wickersham  is  chairman,  corresponding 
committees  and  societies  in  Japan  cooperated  with  the 

6  7 


68 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


union  committee  of  the  Churches  in  meetings  of  wel¬ 
come  and  in  providing  opportunities  for  addresses. 
The  leaders  of  these  interests  in  Tokyo  are  Viscount 
Shibusawa  and  Baron  Sakatani.  To  avoid  conflict  of 
appointments,  letters  from  Viscount  Shibusawa  to  some 
banker  or  member  of  the  local  Chamber  of  Commerce 
in  each  city,  and  from  Baron  Sakatani  to  the  local 
mayor,  or  governor,  or  both,  secured  the  cooperation 
of  the  official  and  business  groups  with  the  Christian 
Committees  in  each  place.  The  result  was  a  remark¬ 
able  succession  for  nearly  two  months  of  public  wel¬ 
comes,  photographs,  addresses,  conferences  and  also 
of  addresses  to  the  writer  by  the  representatives  of  the 
Churches,  by  the  Chambers  of  Commerce,  and  some¬ 
times  also  by  the  mayors  and  the  governors.  He  was 
asked  to  carry  to  the  Churches  of  America  and  to  the 
people  generally  the  expressions  of  goodwill  felt  in 
Japan  toward  America.  In  some  cases  the  public  func¬ 
tions  were  under  the  joint  auspices  of  the  various  in¬ 
terests — Christian,  official  and  civilian ;  sometimes  they 
were  quite  distinct.  In  some  places  both  forms  were 
utilized. 

In  nearly  every  city,  the  motor  car  of  the  governor, 
the  mayor,  or  the  chamber  of  commerce  met  the 
writer  at  the  station  and  conveyed  him  to  the  home  of 
the  missionary  where  he  was  entertained.  In  some 
places  the  car  was  at  his  disposal  for  the  full  period 
of  his  stay.  On  arrival  at  each  station,  not  only 
would  representative  Christians  be  present,  but  also  in 
many  cases  the  mayor,  the  governor,  or  their  repre¬ 
sentative,  as  well  as  a  number  of  leading  citizens.  He 
was  also  courteously  bidden  farewell.  A  detailed  ac- 


DELIVERING  THE  MESSAGE  IN  JAPAN  69 


count  of  the  proceedings  in  each  city  would  make  a 
large  volume. 

In  each  city  there  was  one  official  occasion  for  pre¬ 
senting  the  Federal  Council’s  Message  to  the  churches. 
The  Message  was  usually  read  in  full  and  followed  by 
the  address  of  the  writer  on  the  constructive  program 
of  the  Churches  of  the  United  States  for  a  Warless 
World.  The  origin  and  work  of  the  World  Alliance 
for  International  Friendship  was  also  explained  and 
stressed.  At  the  close  of  each  union  meeting,  Dr.  Paul 
T.  Tsuga,  secretary  of  the  Japanese  Branch  of  this 
international  organization,  explained  the  work  and 
purposes  of  the  Japanese  Branch,  and  steps  were  usually 
taken  to  form  a  local  group  either  then  or  later.  Dr. 
Tsuga  accompanied  the  writer  throughout  his  trip  in 
Japan  and  Korea,  adding  much  to  its  success  and 
comfort. 

In  addition  to  the  Message-meeting  for  the  Chris¬ 
tians,  to  which,  however,  many  non-Christians  generally 
came,  other  meetings  were  held,  varying  in  number 
according  to  the  size  of  the  city  and  the  groups  desir¬ 
ing  special  attention.  Addresses  at  these  usually  dealt 
with  the  various  phases  of  American-Japanese  relations, 
the  so-called  Japanese-California  question,  the  Wash¬ 
ington  Conference,  and  the  League  of  Nations. 

Except  in  the  four  principal  cities  the  usual  length 
of  stay  was  about  two  days,  during  which  there  would 
be  five  or  six  addresses.  In  a  few  places,  however,  four 
or  five  were  scheduled  for  a  single  day  and  in  one  case 
six  were  called  for.  With  rare  exceptions  they  were 
full-time  talks.  The  writer  kept  a  record  of  the  length 
of  each  and  found  that  those  in  Japan  averaged  over 


70 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


an  hour.  Several  were  two  hours,  their  length  having 
been  specified  in  the  invitation.  At  Kagoshima,  the 
writer  addressed  practically  the  same  audience  for  four 
hours.  The  set  address  occupied  the  first  two ;  then  fol¬ 
lowed  the  banquet  after  which  he  was  asked  to  discuss 
a  point  not  considered  in  the  address;  that  discussion 
occupied  an  hour,  and  led  to  further  questions  requiring 
another  hour. 


Outstanding  Occasions 

The  largest  audience  was  in  the  public  hall  in  Osaka, 
when  twenty-five  hundred  men  and  women  listened  for 
nearly  two  hours  to  a  discussion  on  “American-Japa- 
nese  Relations’’  at  a  meeting  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Osaka  Mainichi  Shimbun,  the  most  influential  news¬ 
paper  in  Japan,  whose  daily  issue  exceeds  a  million 
copies  and  whose  English  edition  runs  to  about  fifty 
thousand. 

The  most  important  occasions  with  Christian- Jap¬ 
anese  were  the  welcome  and  farewell  meetings  given 
by  the  Japanese  Church  Federation  in  Tokyo.  At  the 
first  in  February  the  writer  presented  the  Message  and 
at  the  last  in  June  he  received  the  reply  Message  to  the 
Federal  Council  from  the  Japanese  Churches  and  from 
the  Japanese  Branch  of  the  World  Alliance. 

Particularly  interesting  and  important  were  the  wel¬ 
come  and  farewell  meetings  given  the  writer  by  the 
National  Peace  Council  of  Japan.  In  this  Council  are 
federated  nine  different  organizations :  the  Japan  Peace 
Society,  the  Japan  League  of  Nations  Association,  the 
Japanese  Association  for  International  Education,  the 
Association  for  Reduction  of  Armaments,  the  Japanese 


DELIVERING  THE  MESSAGE  IN  JAPAN  71 


Branch  of  the  World  Alliance  for  International  Friend¬ 
ship  through  the  Churches,  the  Women’s  Christian 
Temperance  Union,  the  Woman’s  Peace  Society  of 
Japan,  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.  These 
welcome  and  farewell  meetings  began  with  a  banquet 
attended  by  many  distinguished  leaders  both  in  the 
Churches  and  in  civilian  life.  The  cordiality  and  inti¬ 
mate  friendliness  of  these  two  meetings  were  most 
grateful.  In  each  case  the  Chairman  was  Baron 
Sakatani. 


Numerous  Conferences 

Dinner  conferences  arranged  by  the  Japan  America 
Society  of  West  Japan  in  Osaka  and  by  the  Japan 
America  Relations  Committee  of  Kobe,  also  stand  out 
with  much  distinctness.  The  chairman  of  the  Japan 
America  Society  of  West  Japan  is  Mr.  Matsukata, 
proprietor  and  manager  of  the  Kawasaki  dockyard, 
the  largest  private  dockyard  in  Japan.  Mr.  Matsukata 
has  been  proposing  that  all  war  vessels  exceeding  three 
thousand  tons  be  destroyed,  and  that  hereafter  the 
remaining  small  warships  be  used  exclusively  for  police 
purposes.  The  chairman  of  the  Kobe  Japan  America 
Relations  Committee  is  the  prosperous  business  man 
and  distinguished  Christian,  Mr.  S.  Tamura. 

Luncheon  conferences  with  the  business  men  of 
Tokyo,  of  Yokohama,  and  of  Kobe,  also  remain  vividly 
in  memory.  At  these  the  writer  was  privileged  to 
address  at  some  length  the  merchant  and  banking  lead¬ 
ers  of  the  Empire.  In  all  addresses  to  such  groups,  in 
addition  to  his  discussion  of  American-Japanese  rela¬ 
tions,  the  writer  did  not  fail  to  say  that  he  had  been 


72 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


sent  to  the  Churches  of  the  Far  East  by  the  American 
Churches  with  a  Message  of  Goodwill  and  an  invita¬ 
tion  to  cooperate  in  the  world-wide  campaign  for  a 
Warless  World;  that  this,  however,  was  not  a  program 
on  which  the  Churches  have  a  monopoly ;  but  that  every 
group — business  and  educational  as  well  as  religious — 
must  do  its  part  if  the  end  is  ever  to  be  attained. 

Three  receptions  at  lunch  or  afternoon  tea  at  the 
Tokyo  Club  stand  out  in  memory  because  of  the  num¬ 
ber  of  men  of  rank  and  title  and  prominent  Government 
officials  who  were  present.  It  was  a  great  privilege  to 
tell  them  of  the  work  of  the  American  Churches  in 
promoting  better  international  relations. 

Among  the  more  significant  of  the  many  conferences 
attended  was  that  with  the  Japan  America  Relations 
Committee  of  Tokyo,  the  night  before  the  writer  sailed. 
It  was  held  in  the  beautiful  building  of  the  Bankers’ 
Club.  Some  seventy-five  men  of  the  highest  distinc¬ 
tion  were  present,  and  the  occasion  became  the  oppor¬ 
tunity  for  giving  to  the  public  an  important  “State¬ 
ment”  by  the  Committee  on  American-Japanese 
relations.  The  Statement  concluded  with  the  proposal 
that  the  two  Governments  unite  in  creating  a  Joint 
High  Commission  for  the  study  of  all  remaining  mat¬ 
ters  of  mutual  difficulty,  with  instructions  to  formulate 
constructive  plans  for  their  complete  and  fundamental 
solution.  In  connection  with  the  Statement,  which 
faced  the  present  situation  with  utmost  frankness,  ad¬ 
dresses  of  nearly  an  hour  each  were  made  by  Viscount 
Shibusawa  and  Viscount  Kaneko.  The  Committee 
officially  requested  the  writer  to  do  what  might  be  pos- 


DELIVERING  THE  MESSAGE  IN  JAPAN  73 


sible  to  secure  the  adoption  of  this  proposal  by  the 
American  people  and  Government. 

Meetings  with  Missionaries 

Wherever  missionaries  constituted  a  distinct  group 
a  special  meeting  was  held  in  which  they  were  brought 
into  close  touch  with  the  work  of  the  Federal  Council 
and  the  World  Alliance.  As  in  China  and  Korea,  so  in 
Japan  the  writer  is  deeply  indebted  to  the  missionaries 
not  only  for  their  generous  hospitality,  but  for  the 
stores  of  information  and  the  sidelights  that  have  been 
of  the  greatest  importance  in  helping  him  to  become 
properly  “oriented.”  Japan  is  in  the  midst  of  a  period 
of  rapid  intellectual  transformation.  A  true  picture  of 
what  is  happening  is  not  easy  to  secure  or  to  transmit. 
For  any  real  knowledge  of  the  situation  which  he  may 
have  secured  the  writer  is  indebted  in  no  small  degree  to 
missionaries,  and  to  the  small  conference  groups  whom 
they  arranged  to  have  him  meet. 

While  it  is  impracticable  to  list  all  their  names,  one 
of  the  missionaries  should  be  specially  mentioned — 
Mr.  Gilbert  Bowles,  of  the  Friends’  Mission,  “the 
Father  of  the  Peace  Movement  in  Japan.”  During  each 
of  the  periods  spent  in  Japan,  Mr.  Bowles  gave  of  his 
time  and  strength  without  stint.  His  constant  attention 
to  the  details  of  the  program  in  all  the  cities  visited,  his 
many  letters  and  his  steady  personal  effort  to  make  those 
months  of  utmost  value  to  all  concerned,  were  invalu¬ 
able  factors  in  the  success  of  the  visit  to  Japan.* 

*  The  names  of  the  other  principal  Japanese  and  non-mis¬ 
sionaries  who  contributed  to  the  writer’s  picture  of  present-day 
Japan  will  be  found  with  similar  lists  in  Appendix  III,  pp.  153-162. 


74 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


There  were  interviews  with  a  dozen  Governors  of 
Prefectures,  with  more  than  a  score  each  of  Mayors, 
Presidents  of  local  chambers  of  commerce  and  direc¬ 
tors  of  local  banks  and  with  several  score  pastors  and 
Christian  business  men. 

Conferences  with  the  Premier  and  Foreign  Minister 

Special  mention  should  be  made  of  two  personal 
interviews  with  Admiral  Baron  Kato,  Premier,  and 
Chief  of  the  Japanese  Delegation  to  the  Washington 
Conference.  One  occurred  shortly  after  reaching 
Japan,  and  one  the  day  before  sailing  for  America.  It 
seemed  desirable  at  the  outset  to  state  to  him  directly 
and  somewhat  carefully  the  purpose  of  the  writer’s 
visit  and  the  nature  of  the  Message  he  was  bringing, 
not  only  to  the  Christians  and  Churches  of  Japan,  but 
also  to  those  of  Korea  and  China.  And  it  seemed 
desirable  before  departing  to  give  him  a  brief  report  of 
what  had  been  done  and  to  express  appreciation  of  the 
boundless  courtesies  and  cordial  goodwill  enjoyed  while 
in  Japan.  The  death  in  August  of  Premier  Kato  is  a 
serious  loss  for  America  as  well  as  for  Japan. 

Two  personal  interviews  were  also  had  with  Viscount 
Uchida,  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs.  The  Viscount 
on  the  second  interview,  transmitted  a  special  message 
from  His  Majesty,  the  Prince  Regent,  expressing  ap¬ 
preciation  of  the  work  and  efforts  rendered  in  the 
promotion  of  understanding  and  goodwill  between  our 
two  peoples.  The  writer  replied  (as  was  his  custpm 
in  response  to  all  such  expressions  of  appreciation)  that 
he  accepted  the  courteous  message  not  personally,  but 
as  directed  to  the  great  body  of  Churches  which  he  had 


DELIVERING  THE  MESSAGE  IN  JAPAN  75 


the  honor  to  represent.  He  also  added  that  if  he  had 
been  able  to  accomplish  anything  it  was  entirely  due  to 
the  existence  of  large  numbers  of  men  and  women  of 
goodwill  in  America  who  had  supported  him  during  the 
past  ten  years  of  special  endeavor  along  these  lines  and 
who  earnestly  desire  the  permanent  maintenance  of 
righteous  and  friendly  relations  between  our  two 
countries. 


Chapter  V 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  THE  PHILIP¬ 
PINE  ISLANDS 


HE  question  most  frequently  to  the  fore  was  that 


JL  of  the  relations  of  the  Philippine  Islands  and  the 
United  States.  The  Independence  movement  claims  the 
front  page  of  the  news  sheets.  Educational,  economic 
and  even  religious  matters  and  interests  are  constantly 
looked  at  from  the  standpoint  of  this  movement.  It  is 
the  one  thrilling  theme.  To  make  an  address  interest¬ 
ing  it  must  take  some  kind  of  a  slant  glance,  at  least, 
at  this  theme.  Nationalism  is  pulsing  strong  in  the 
young  Filipino  blood.  Every  act  of  Governor-General 
Wood  was  closely  scrutinized  from  the  standpoint  of 
its  effect  on  the  early  achievement  of  independence,  or 
its  delay. 

Filipino  politicians  are  clamoring  for  immediate  and 
complete  independence.  American  merchants  and  in¬ 
vestors,  however,  are  saying  that  Filipinos  are  essen¬ 
tially  incapable  of  conducting  an  upright,  just  and  stable 
government  and  that  therefore  the  promises  of  Presi¬ 
dents  McKinley  and  Roosevelt,  and  of  Congress  in  the 
Jones  Act,  should  be  withdrawn  and  a  territorial  gov¬ 
ernment  established. 

The  writer’s  brief  visit  in  the  Philippine  Islands  re¬ 
quires  modesty  of  personal  judgment  on  matters,  com- 


MOVEMENTS  IN  THE  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS  77 


plex  and  thorny.  But  two  points  seem  to  him  obvious. 
The  period  since  annexation  has  been  altogether  too 
short  and  the  circumstances  too  difficult  to  test  in  any 
adequate  way  the  ultimate  Filipino  capacity  for  orderly 
and  efficient,  democratic  self-government.  The  with¬ 
drawal,  on  the  other  hand,  of  America’s  pledge  to  those 
Islands  and  the  complete  establishment  of  American 
sovereignty  and  perpetual  political  domination  by  the 
creation  of  a  Territorial  Government,  as  requested  by  a 
recent  resolution  of  the  American  Chamber  of  Com¬ 
merce  at  Manila,  would  have  disastrous  effects  on  Chi¬ 
nese  and  Japanese  as  well  as  on  Filipino  opinion  regard¬ 
ing  America’s  good  faith. 

The  immediate  giving  to  the  Philippine  Islands  of 
complete  independence  may  not  be  wise ;  but  the  repeal 
of  the  Jones  Act  and  the  establishment  by  Congress  of 
a  Territorial  Government  would  be  still  less  wise.  It 
would  be  in  fact  a  colossal  blunder  and  a  serious  breach 
of  faith.  It  would  create  throughout  the  Far  East  and 
probably  throughout  the  world,  deep  suspicions  of 
America’s  territorial  and  economic  imperialistic  ambi¬ 
tions  which  no  verbal  assurances  could  possibly  remove. 
Such  an  act  by  the  United  States  would  cause  deep  mis¬ 
givings  concerning  America’s  real  policies  in  the  Pacific 
and  bring  into  question  her  real  purposes  in  the  Wash¬ 
ington  Conference  for  the  Limitation  o£  Armament. 

If  the  peace  of  the  Pacific  is  to  be  perpetually  main¬ 
tained  each  of  the  nations  having  interests  in  that  huge 
area  must  play  the  game  with  utmost  fairness  and  good 
faith  and  avoid  even  the  appearance  of  selfish  ambition 
and  territorial  aggression. 

Special  inquiry  was  made  regarding  educational, 


78 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


ethical  and  religious  progress  and  much  was  learned 
full  of  significance.  The  social  evil,  here  as  in  all 
Oriental  ports,  constitutes  a  grave  menace  to  the  health 
and  morals  of  American  youth  in  the  army  and  navy. 
Cock  fighting  seems  to  be  distinctly  on  the  wane,  being 
under  the  condemnation  of  young  patriotic  Filipinos. 
The  demand  for  education  of  the  middle  and  higher 
grades  is  developing  rapidly,  far  exceeding  the  capacity 
of  the  present  institutions.  Filipino  leaders  seem  to 
believe  that  they  can  retain,  after  securing  independ¬ 
ence,  the  advantages  they  now  enjoy  under  the  Amer¬ 
ican  flag.  They  do  not  appear  to  appreciate  the  real 
problems  they  would  face  the  moment  they  become  fully 
independent.  The  Aguilpay  independent  church  move¬ 
ment,  so  promising  a  decade  ago,  seems  not  yet  to  have 
accomplished  the  great  results  anticipated.  Though  the 
masses  were  ready  to  leave  the  Roman  Church,  they  did 
not  have  the  necessary  consecrated,  intelligent  and 
forceful  leadership.  The  future  of  this  movement  is 
problematical.  It  is  neither  adequately  Protestant  to 
have  a  high  and  strong  ethical  life,  nor  sufficiently 
Roman  Catholic  to  be  efficiently  organized.  The  vast 
majority  of  the  people  still  adhere  through  mere  cus¬ 
tom  to  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  The  writer  was 
told,  however,  that  Filipino  leaders,  as  a  rule,  are  quite 
alienated  from  Catholicism. 

It  is  evident,  even  on  a  casual  study  of  the  situation, 
that  the  Protestant  Churches  have  a  wonderful  oppor¬ 
tunity  for  really  Christianizing  the  people.  But  one 
serious  obstacle  in  the  way  is  denominationalism.  The 
Roman  Catholic  ideal  of  a  single  authoritative  Church 
has  molded  the  Filipino  mind.  A  divided  Protestant- 


MOVEMENTS  IN  THE  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS  79 


ism,  however  fine  its  ethics  and  self-sacrificing  its  spirit 
of  service,  will  hardly  be  able  to  win  and  permanently 
hold  the  allegiance  of  spiritually-minded  Filipinos.  The 
Missions  and  Mission  Boards  of  the  Protestant 
Churches  carrying  on  Christian  work  in  these  Islands 
have  a  grave  responsibility  in  facing  this  situation. 
Comity  and  division  of  territory  among  the  Boards 
and  denominations  though  a  step  in  the  right  direction 
are  not  enough.  Only  a  non-sectarian  National  Fili¬ 
pino  Church  can  satisfy  the  requirements. 


Chapter  VI 

SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  KOREA 
The  Christian  Movement 


A  COMPREHENSIVE  statement  of  the  Christian 
movement  in  Korea  is  beyond  the  scope  of  this 
brief  survey.  The  missionaries  number  four  hundred 
fifty-eight  (December,  1922)  and  are  enthusiastically  at 
work  on  their  great  undertaking  to  win  Korea  for 
Christ.  In  this  they  have  met  obvious  obstacles  due  to 
the  annexation  of  the  country  by  Japan  in  1910.  The 
loss  of  political  independence  and  the  presence  of  an 
alien  and  disliked  governing  force  have  created  many 
special  problems  of  great  difficulty  and  delicacy.  The 
Japanese  Government  has  also  had  to  face  a  difficult 
situation.  That  Korean  patriots  should  attempt  to 
make  use  of  the  Churches  to  promote  their  patriotic 
ends  and  thus  confuse  politics  and  religion  was  not  un¬ 
natural.  And  it  was  not  unnatural  that  the  Government 
should  keep  close  watch  on  all  Christian  meetings.  It 
was  stated  to  the  writer  that  even  yet  all  public  meetings 
and  Church  services  are  under  police  supervision.  Mis¬ 
sionaries  and  Koreans  alike  resent  this. 

While  the  higher  Japanese  officials  are  convinced  that 
the  missionaries  are  not  seeking  political  ends  in  their 

Christian  work,  yet  the  lower  officials — the  most  part 

80 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  KOREA  81 


not  being  Christians — do  not  appreciate  the  missionary 
motive.  The  movements  of  (every  missionary  are 
closely  watched  by  the  police  and  every  utterance  by 
preachers  and  pastors  is  carefully  scrutinized.  Though 
these  procedures  are  not  so  pronounced  or  officious  as 
formerly,  the  writer  was  assured  that  they  still 
continue. 

In  spite,  however,  of  these  conditions  the  growth  of 
the  Korean  Churches  in  membership  and  in  contribu¬ 
tions  gives  evidence  of  faithful  work,  serious  deter¬ 
mination  and  religious  zeal.  According  to  the  latest 
available  figures  (December,  1922)  the  number  of  adult 
church  members  was  97,466,  which  with  seekers,  bap¬ 
tized  children  and  “adherents”  constitute  a  Christian 
body  of  over  two  hundred  fifty  thousand.  The  number 
of  ordained  pastors  was  338;  and  of  paid  workers, 
both  men  and  women,  1,628.  Church  buildings  num¬ 
bered  2,807.  spite  ^e  general  poverty  of  the 
people,  their  contributions  for  all  purposes  in  connec¬ 
tion  with  their  Churches  in  1922  amounted  to 
1,419,945  yen,  or  $709,972.50  (one  yen  —  fifty  cents). 
The  question  of  self-support  is  being  pushed  with  fine 
results.  Korean  Christians  have  splendid  habits  of 
church  attendance,  and  also  of  Bible  study.  The  num¬ 
ber  of  Bibles  (7,382)  and  New  Testaments  (51,547) 
sold  during  the  last  year  totaled  nearly  59,000. 

Both  the  educational  and  medical  work  of  the  mis¬ 
sions  are  being  carried  on  with  energy  and  commend¬ 
able  results.  For  many  years  these  institutions 
provided  for  the  people  practically  all  they  had  along 
modern  lines  in  these  matters.  After  annexation  the 
Government-General  undertook  the  establishment  of  a 


82 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


general  school  system  and  promulgated  laws  and  regu¬ 
lations  calculated  to  promote  the  Japanization  of  the 
Korean  youth.  Conflict  with  the  already  established 
mission  schools  was  inevitable.  The  story  of  this  situ¬ 
ation  is  long  and  complicated.  It  must  suffice  here  to 
say  that  the  present  Government-General  has  modified 
the  earlier  regulations  in  a  number  of  important  re¬ 
spects.  Mission  schools  have  rendered  and  are  still 
rendering  an  important  service  to  the  people.  It  is  the 
declared  purpose  of  the  Government-General  to  give 
private  schools  in  Korea  the  same  rights  and  privileges 
as  in  Japan  proper.  A  marked  change  of  attitude 
toward  the  use  of  the  Korean  language  in  all  the 
schools  has  recently  taken  place,  and  it  is  now  freely 
used.  Likewise  in  regard  to  the  teaching  of  the  Bible, 
practically  complete  liberty  is  now  allowed.  The  finan¬ 
cial  regulations  of  the  Government-General  in  regard 
to  school  equipment,  however,  are  such  that  not  a  few 
of  the  mission  schools  are  placed  in  a  difficult  position. 
The  regulations,  moreover,  in  regard  to  the  employ¬ 
ment  of  licensed  teachers  are  found  difficult  at  present 
because  of  the  small  number  of  such  teachers.  The 
service  rendered  by  the  mission  schools,  merely  from 
the  standpoint  of  education,  may  be  indicated  by  the 
fact  that  the  number  of  these  schools  of  all  grades  is 
1,357  and  the  total  enrollment  in  1922  was  69,680. 

Medical  work  occupies  a  prominent  place  in  the 
missionary  program  in  Korea.  There  are  twenty-six 
hospitals  manned  by  thirty  men  and  thirty-seven 
women,  missionary  physicians  and  nurses.  Their  907 
beds  accommodated  142,455  in-patients,  while  the  num¬ 
ber  of  new  patients  cared  for  in  the  dispensaries  was 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  KOREA  83 


151,792.  The  total  expenditures  for  the  medical  work, 
not  including  the  salaries  of  missionaries  in  1922,  was 
4,961,588  yen,  while  the  receipts,  not  including  Board 
grants  or  foreign  gifts,  was  2,106,801  yen.  The  writer 
has  the  impression  that  in  proportion  to  the  population, 
Korea  is  better  supplied  with  missionary  medical  serv¬ 
ice  than  any  field  in  Asia,  unless  it  be  in  the  Near  East. 

The  General  Situation 

While  in  Korea,  much  printed  material  and  personal 
information  was  received,  describing  the  general  situ¬ 
ation.  To  present  it  with  any  degree  of  adequacy  would 
require  a  good-sized  volume.  In  the  most  general 
terms  it  is  probably  not  far  from  the  truth  to  say  that 
among  the  missionaries  he  found  an  atmosphere  of 
moderate  optimism.  Many  of  the  grounds  of  complaint 
that  caused  serious  solicitude  have  been  removed,  or  at 
least  largely  modified.  The  higher  officials  of  the 
Government-General  seem  deeply  in  earnest  to  do  the 
right  thing  by  the  Korean  people;  abuses  prevalent 
three  and  four  years  ago  have  to  a  large  degree  been 
abolished,  and  much  tedious  and  irritating  red  tape 
has  been  simplified.  Flogging  as  a  punishment  has 
been  stopped;  earnest  efforts  by  the  Government-Gen¬ 
eral  are  being  made  to  end  the  rough  treatment  of  the 
people  by  the  lower  police.  Instances  are  recorded  of 
the  punishment  of  police  for  transgressing  the  rules, 
either  by  discharge,  or  by  infliction  of  actual  penalties. 
The  higher  authorities  emphatically  declare  that  they 
desire  to  be  informed  of  every  case  of  police  brutality. 
It  seems,  however,  to  be  the  general  belief  that  wrong¬ 
doing  in  these  matters  still  goes  on,  though  not  to  the 


84 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


extent  that  it  did  even  two  years  ago.  Several  Amer¬ 
ican  physicians  assured  the  writer  that  not  for  a  year 
have  they  had  cases  brought  to  their  hospitals  of  per¬ 
sons  injured  by  the  police. 

The  general  attitude  of  the  missionaries  to  the  Gov¬ 
ernor-General  seems  to  be  that  of  goodwill.  They 
repeatedly  stated  that  he  is  sincerely  trying  to  do  the 
best  in  a  difficult  situation.  It  is  worth  noting  that 
more  than  a  dozen  Japanese  Christians  are  employed  in 
important  governmental  positions.  More  than  once 
was  the  Governor-General  described  as  “the  best  friend 
of  the  Korean  people  since  Prince  Ito,”  who  was  assas¬ 
sinated.  His  influence  and  spirit  are  gradually  working 
downward  into  the  lower  ranks  of  administrative  offi¬ 
cialdom  with  marked  results.  This  new  spirit  extends 
even  into  Manchuria. 

The  economic  advantage  to  Korea  and  to  the  people 
generally  because  of  their  relations  to  Japan  are  recog¬ 
nized  by  many,  although  some  Koreans  insist  that  the 
advantages  all  go  to  the  Japanese  in  Korea.  Complaint 
was  frequently  heard  of  the  grip  and  the  ruthlessness 
of  monopolistic  enterprises  established  by  Japanese 
capitalists  and  protected  by  the  Government.  Favorit¬ 
ism  on  the  part  of  these  enterprises  for  Japanese  as 
against  Koreans  was  commonly  charged.  The  energy 
and  foresight  with  which  the  Government-General  is 
building  up  the  agricultural,  industrial  and  financial  as 
well  as  the  educational  basis  for  the  well-being  of  the 
people  is  impressive.  Already  through  the  excess  of 
her  exports  of  food  supplies  and  industrial  products 
to  Japan  over  her  imports  from  Japan,  Korea  is 
reaping  large  advantages.  The  migration  of  Koreans 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  KOREA  85 


is  now  freely  allowed.  Tens  of  thousands  of  laborers 
have  gone  to  Japan  where  they  can  earn  much  higher 
wages  than  in  Korea.  The  number  going  thither  daily 
at  the  time  of  the  writer’s  visit  was  from  five  hundred 
to  a  thousand.  No  restriction  is  placed  on  Korean  emi¬ 
gration  to  Manchuria. 

The  Policy  of  the  Government-General 

It  is  the  declared  purpose  of  the  Government-General 
to  remove  all  discrimination  between  the  races  and  to 
promote  the  complete  psychological  unification  of  the 
Korean  and  Japanese  people.  This  is  to  be  attained, 
they  say,  not  by  compulsion  but  by  free  acceptance  on 
the  part  of  the  Koreans  through  appreciation  of  the 
Japanese  culture  and  by  the  personal  advantages  secured 
by  those  who  cordially  cooperate.  Intermarriage  is 
endorsed  and  desired  by  the  Government,  the  Korean 
Prince  having  recently  been  married  to  a  daughter  of 
the  Japanese  Imperial  House.  This  by  way  of  example 
for  the  people.  The  number,  however,  of  Japanese- 
Korean  marriages  is  still  negligible. 

Japanese  employed  by  the  Government-General  are 
encouraged  to  study  the  Korean  language,  bonuses 
being  granted  for  definite  achievements.  Koreans  are 
also  encouraged  to  learn  Japanese,  which  they  do  with 
such  correctness  and  fluency  that  many  easily  pass  for 
Japanese  among  the  Japanese  themselves. 

The  Government  has  also  started  a  system  of  local 
Advisory  Councils,  partially  elective,  having  a  limited 
amount  of  responsibility  for  local  taxes.  A  system  of 
local  School  Councils  has  also  been  inaugurated.  It  is 
proposed  gradually  to  extend  the  scope  and  responsi- 


86 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


bility  of  these  Councils  until  it  is  hoped  they  shall  be 
fully  self-governing  local  bodies  after  a  number  of 
years  of  experience.  Already  plans  are  being  consid¬ 
ered  for  sending  Korean  representatives  to  the  Japanese 
Diet.  Some,  however,  are  advocating  an  independent 
Diet  for  Korea.  Taken  all  in  all,  it  looks  as  though 
the  Japanese  Government-General  were  making  prog¬ 
ress  in  adopting  up-to-date  methods  in  its  difficult  task. 
The  people  as  a  whole  seem  to  be  settling  down  to  an 
acceptance  of  Japanese  sovereignty. 

The  Attitudes  of  Korean  Leaders 

Ardent  patriots  view  the  situation  with  some  alarm, 
exactly  because  the  Government  is  proceeding  with  such 
a  psychologically  effective  program  for  winning  the 
people.  The  success  of  the  Government-General,  they 
hold,  in  fusing  the  two  peoples,  spells  the  destruction 
of  Korean  culture,  the  extinction  of  the  national  soul. 

Some  Japanese  leaders,  however,  do  not  regard  their 
results  thus  far  as  particularly  promising.  They  feel 
the  powerful  opposition  of  the  Korean  national  spirit. 
Some  of  them  frankly  confess  that  nothing  they  do 
seems  to  be  really  effective  in  winning  the  goodwill, 
the  appreciation  or  the  loyal  cooperation  of  the  Korean 
leaders.  These  strong  men  continue  as  before  in  quiet, 
unconquered,  haughty  opposition.  They  may  cooperate 
in  externals;  they  propose  no  violent  opposition  to 
Japan.  They  do  not  plot  nor  agitate.  But  in  their 
hearts  they  remain  persistently  Korean  in  spirit.  A  few 
leaders  in  Japan  proper  went  so  far  as  to  state  that  in 
their  opinion  Korea  was  likely  to  become  Japan’s 
Ireland. 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  KOREA  87 


The  vast  majority  of  the  people  and  of  the  real 
leaders  are  silent  regarding  the  program  for  the  early 
independence  of  Korea.  Those  who  became  active 
agents  of  the  program  a  few  years  ago  and  made  their 
living  thereby  now  find  themselves  in  serious  difficulties 
financially.  Support  for  the  movement  has  largely 
ceased.  Those  agitators  are  regarded  by  the  Japanese 
Government  as  professionals,  to  be  run  down  and  ex¬ 
terminated.  This  is  making  the  agitators  more  extreme 
in  their  plans  for  the  violent  overthrow  of  the  Govern¬ 
ment.  Material  supplies  and  moral  backing  are  secured 
from  Siberia  and  the  Russian  Soviet.  Bomb  plots  have 
become  more  frequent.  It  is  difficult,  however,  to  see 
what  benefit  would  come  to  Korea  as  a  result  of  the 
assassination  of  the  Governor-General  and  any  of  the 
higher  officials,  and  it  is  not  difficult  to  see  that  the 
harm  to  Korea  herself  might  be  tragic.  Korean  annex¬ 
ation  was  the  immediation  result  of  the  assassination  of 
Prince  Ito  in  1910. 

An  Independent  Korean  Church 

But  in  spite  of  the  political  conditions,  the  Christian 
movement  in  Korea  seems  to  be  moving  steadily  for¬ 
ward.  Progress  is  reported  on  every  side.  The  group 
of  churches  resulting  from  the  decade  of  missionary 
work  by  the  Kumai  (Congregational)  Churches  of 
Japan,  has  become  absolutely  independent  of  the  parent 
body.  This  is  the  first  indigenous,  wholly  self-support¬ 
ing  and  self-governing  Christian  body  in  Korea.  The 
head,  Rev.  Lyn  Il-son,  is  a  man  of  ability  and  spiritual 
power.  Although  serious  financial  difficulties  are  ahead 
of  the  young  Church,  those  who  know  it  best  are  con- 


88 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


fident  that  it  will  surmount  them  and  become  a  powerful 
agent  for  the  Kingdom  of  God  in  Korea. 

An  interesting  sign  of  the  times  is  the  rather  chimer¬ 
ical  proposal  of  many  leaders,  especially  among  the 
young,  to  establish  an  independent  Korean  University, 
entirely  financed  and  managed  by  Koreans,  at  a  cost  of 
many  million  yen — this  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  there  is 
already  the  Chosen  Christian  College  (a  union  enter¬ 
prise)  with  a  splendid  plant,  looking  toward  becoming 
a  university  in  the  near  future ;  and  also  in  spite  of  the 
fact  that  the  Government-General  has  plans  pretty  well 
matured  for  a  national  university. 

A  Comprehensive  Summary 

This  brief  description  of  the  situation  in  Korea  may 
well  close  with  quotations  from  one  of  the  best- 
informed  students  of  Eastern  affairs,  familiar  with 
Oriental  conditions  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Two 
forces,  he  says,  are  at  work  shaping  a  new  Korea,  “the 
inner,  silent,  spiritual  leaven  of  Christianity  working 
through  churches,  schools,  hospitals  and  institutions/’ 
and  “the  outward,  iron  frame-work  of  the  stern,  effi¬ 
cient  militaristic  rule  of  Japan.”  Japanese  rule,  how¬ 
ever,  has  undergone  a  great  change  from  the  military 
regime  of  a  few  years  ago  with  which  the  world  has 
become  familiar.  “There  is  an  increased  measure  of 
liberty  of  thought,  of  speech,  and  of  the  press;  the 
inauguration  of  local  self-government;  the  participa¬ 
tion  of  Koreans  in  the  district  and  national  govern¬ 
ment;  a  creditable  increase  in  education;  the  abolition 
of  whipping  and  of  the  former  forcible  attempt  to 
assimilate  the  Koreans;  concessions  to  the  national 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  KOREA  89 


sentiment  of  the  people,  and  a  manifest  effort  on  the 
part  of  Japanese  officials  for  conciliation  and 
friendship.” 

“An  impartial  observer  is  struck  by  the  outstanding 
changes  and  substantial  gains  here.  There  is  a  new 
security  that  Korea  never  knew  under  her  own  corrupt 
and  grafting  emperors  and  officials.  There  is  a  new 
material  development,  a  new  opportunity  for  advance¬ 
ment,  a  new  sanitation,  the  introduction  of  more  scien¬ 
tific  farming,  a  new  industrial  development,  the  re¬ 
planting  of  forests,  better  courts,  much  needed  prison 
reforms,  more  honest  official  administration,  and  more 
material  prosperity  than  Korea  had  known  under  her 
own  government.  No  unprejudiced  observer  can  deny 
that  the  material  gains  of  the  first  decade  of  Japanese 
rule,  from  1910  to  1920,  are  remarkable.  The  popula¬ 
tion  has  increased  from  some  13,000,000  to  over 
17,000,000.  The  trade  has  multiplied  seven-fold.  Over 
300,000  pupils  are  in  the  over-crowded  schools  of  all 
grades,  while  the  children  in  the  government  schools 
have  increased  three-fold  in  the  decade.  The  number  of 
commercial  companies  has  increased  from  152  to  544; 
the  factories  show  an  eight-fold  increase  from  252  to 
some  1900.  The  mining  of  the  country  has  increased 
four-fold.  The  Koreans  are  undeniably  more  pros¬ 
perous  today  than  they  were  ten  years  ago.  They  have 
lost  a  large  measure  of  liberty,  but  they  have  gained  a 
new  discipline,  a  new  patriotism,  a  new  courage  and  a 
new  national  spirit.” 

“The  Koreans  are  a  splendid  people,  hearty, 
courageous,  independent,  with  their  spirit  tempered  by 
much  persecution  and  former  injustice.  The  majority 


90 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


of  the  pastors  and  lay  leaders  with  whom  I  talked  had 
been  in  prison.  They  counted  this  a  greater  honor  than 
any  university  diploma.  This  new  courage,  enterprise, 
and  patriotism,  were  unknown  by  the  masses  under 
their  own  government.  Side  by  side,  a  new  and  liberal 
Japan  and  a  new  Korea  with  free  and  courageous 
spirit  are  developing.,, 


Chapter  VII 

SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  CHINA 

The  National  Christian  Council 

THE  outstanding  event  of  the  writer’s  visit  in 
China  was  attendance  at  the  first  annual  meeting 
of  the  National  Christian  Council ,  held  in  Shanghai  in 
May,  1923.  The  Council  is  composed  of  one  hundred 
members,  seventy-five  of  whom  are  elected  pro  rata  by 
ten  denominational  groups,  and  various  national  Chris¬ 
tian  organizations  and  educational  interests.  The  re¬ 
maining  twenty-five  members  are  elected  by  this  body 
of  direct  representatives.  The  Council  has  an  Executive 
Committee  and  four  full-time  secretaries,  two  foreign 
and  two  native,  the  Rt.  Rev.  L.  H.  Roots,  Dr.  Henry 
Hodgkin,  the  Rev.  K.  T.  Chung  and  Miss  Y.  L.  Fan. 
As  this  was  the  first  meeting  of  the  Council  since  it 
was  constituted  by  the  Conference  that  met  a  year 
previously,  the  chief  questions  were  those  concerning 
the  duties  and  functions  of  the  executives,  the  defini¬ 
tion  of  the  extent  and  the  limitation  of  their  responsi¬ 
bilities  and  authority,  and  the  relations  of  the  Council  to 
the  many  already  existing  societies  and  committees 
dealing  with  specific  tasks.  The  membership  of  the 
Council  and  of  the  committees  was  well  divided  be¬ 
tween  Chinese  and  Occidentals.  The  language  of  the 
Council  meetings  was  bi-lingual.  Addresses  or  remarks 

91 


92 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


in  either  language  were  immediately  translated  into  the 
other  before  the  next  step  could  be  taken.  It  was  re¬ 
markable  with  what  celerity  and  success  the  meetings 
and  the  business  went  forward. 

A  forenoon  was  devoted  to  the  Council’s  duty  with 
regard  to  international  questions.  Three  admirable 
papers  were  presented  by  Chinese  Christians,  after 
which  the  writer  as  the  Federal  Council’s  representative 
presented  the  Message,  accompanying  it  with  an  ad¬ 
dress  emphasizing  the  opportunity  awaiting  the  Church 
of  China  of  taking  her  place  from  the  start  with  the 
other  churches  of  the  world  in  facing  the  responsibility 
of  Christianity  for  banishing  war  from  the  world.  He 
indicated  that  the  appointment  by  the  Council  of  a 
suitable  committee  on  international  relations  was  highly 
important,  and  further  suggested  that  such  a  committee 
might  well  serve  as  the  Chinese  Branch  of  the  World 
Alliance  for  International  Friendship  through  the 
Churches. 

This  address  was  received  with  manifest  approval, 
and  later  the  appointment  of  this  committee  was  author¬ 
ized.  This  was  particularly  gratifying  for,  during  the 
preliminary  visit,  doubt  had  been  expressed  by  several 
persons  of  influence  as  to  the  readiness  of  the  Council 
to  take  this  action.  That  morning’s  session  was  de¬ 
scribed  as  the  high-water  mark  of  the  Council’s  pro¬ 
ceedings. 


China's  Revolutions  and  Turmoil 

China  is  passing  through  a  period  of  storm  and 
stress.  Three  distinct  revolutions  are  well  under  way, 
the  Intellectual,  the  Industrial  and  the  Political. 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  CHINA  93 


The  mind  of  China  is  rapidly  turning  from  an  un¬ 
scientific,  superstitious,  medieval  attitude  toward 
Nature  and  the  Universe,  to  a  modern,  scientific  view¬ 
point.  The  achievements  of  the  West  during  the  past 
four  hundred  years  are  being  acquired  by  China  within 
a  generation.  The  Renaissance  of  the  fifteenth  and 
sixteenth  centuries,  the  enlightenment  and  the  age  of 
reason  of  the  seventeenth  and  eighteenth  centuries,  and 
the  science  of  the  nineteenth  and  twentieth  centuries,  are 
all  pouring  into  the  Chinese  mind  together.  Moreover, 
in  the  light  of  occidental  learning,  achievements  and 
speculation,  young  China  is  studying  China’s  four 
millenniums  of  history,  both  critically  and  apprecia¬ 
tively.  Diverse  and  somewhat  contradictory  intellectual 
movements  accordingly  are  stirring  her  youth.  A  new 
freedom  of  thought  and  of  life  is  rapidly  making  old 
China  obsolete  and  even  unintelligible.  The  new  litera¬ 
ture  written  in  the  colloquial — the  National  Language 
— is  casting  out  and  making  unreadable  all  of  China’s 
classics.  Reforms  are  rampant.  Footbinding  for  girls 
and  queues  for  men  are  under  the  ban  in  most  of  the 
larger  centers,  although  still  common  in  many  interior 
towns.  Parents  no  longer  dominate  the  marriage  of 
their  children  as  universally  and  autocratically  as  in 
former  times.  Neo-Confucianism  and  revived 
Buddhism  are  battling  with  Christianity,  with  atheism 
and  with  blatant  materialism.  Young  women  and  girls 
are  also  claiming  freedom  and  inherent  rights  along 
with  young  men.* 

*  An  extraordinarily  informing  series  of  seven  articles  by 
Chinese  young  men  on  “The  Intellectual  Awakening  of  Young 
China”  was  published  in  the  August  issue  of  the  Chinese 
Recorder,  which  no  one  desiring  to  know  present-day  forces  and 
movements  in  China  can  afford  to  overlook. 


94 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


A  political  revolution  has  brought  China  into  the 
circle  of  nations  calling  themselves  Republican.  But  it 
is  not  easy  to  describe  the  reality — a  Republic  in  the 
making — but  a  good  deal  still  to  make.  At  present  the 
Government  recognized  by  the  “Powers”  has  no  power 
beyond  the  walls  of  Peking  and  is  not  in  complete 
control  even  within  them.  A  half  a  dozen  super-Gen- 
erals  (Tuchuns)  divide  the  country  between  them,  each 
seeking ‘to  eliminate  the  others  and  become  the  ruler — 
the  President  of  the  Republic.  During  the  four  months 
of  my  visit  in  China  four  Prime  Ministers  formed  four 
ephemeral  cabinets.  I  saw  Dr.  Sun  Yat-sen,  in  exile  in 
Shanghai,  shortly  before  his  return  to  Canton  in  Jan¬ 
uary,  1923.  He  was  confident  that  he  would  overthrow 
the  usurpers  and  establish  a  true  Republican  Govern¬ 
ment  for  a  re-united  China.  His  military  defeat  by  the 
forces  of  Wu-Pei-fu  in  June,  together  with  the  opening 
of  the  National  Parliament  at  Shanghai  reported  in 
August,  and  his  flight  from  Canton  after  serious  mili¬ 
tary  defeats  in  October,  are  new  factors  in  the  situation. 

During  the  summer  the  political  turmoil  in  Peking 
forced  President  Li  Yuan-hung  to  flee  to  Tientsin  and 
to  resign  his  office.  A  few  days  later,  however,  he 
claimed  to  have  resumed  it,  as  no  successor  had  been 
elected.  Party  strife  in  the  Parliament  became  so  severe 
during  the  latter  part  of  August  that  a  large  number  of 
the  members  went  to  Shanghai  and  there,  according  to 
a  cablegram  of  September  15th,  four  hundred  and 
eighty-six  members  issued  a  manifesto  repudiating  the 
effort  being  made  by  the  Super  Tuchung,  Tsao  Kun,  to 
assemble  a  quorum  and  to  elect  a  president,  presumably 
himself.  President  Li  had  escaped  to  Shanghai  with 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  CHINA  95 


twenty-two  former  ministers  and  secretaries,  and  it  was 
proposed  to  make  Shanghai  the  seat  of  Government  and 
to  form  an  administration  composed  of  all  the  factions. 

On  October  5,  however,  Marshal  Tsao  Kun  was 
able  to  assemble  five  hundred  and  ninety  members  of 
Parliament  who  promptly  by  a  clear  majority  of  fifty 
elected  him  to  the  Presidency.  The  bribery  ($5,000 
Mexican  per  vote)  was  “gross  even  for  China. ”  This 
election  in  October,  and  under  the  influence  of  bribes, 
was  foretold  to  the  writer  by  an  astute  observer  when 
he  was  in  Peking  the  previous  April. 

If  reports  are  to  be  believed,  for  three  months  there 
was  only  a  partial  cabinet,  Mr.  Wellington  Koo 
serving  as  the  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs.  This 
preserved  the  fiction  of  a  Government  vis-a-vis  the  for¬ 
eign  governments  and  prevented  them  from  withdraw¬ 
ing  recognition. 

Only  one  extraordinarily  conversant  with  Chinese 
personalities  and  politics  can  expect  to  understand  with 
any  accuracy  whatever  the  kaleidoscope  changes  stead¬ 
ily  taking  place. 

The  Terrible  Poverty  in  China 

The  writer’s  first  deep  impression  in  China  was  the 
vast  amount  of  terrible  poverty.  The  impression  con¬ 
tinued  and  increased  with  time  and  travel.  Ragged  mil¬ 
lions,  scantily  clothed  even  in  the  coldest  weather; 
crowds  of  half  starved  men  and  women;  the  emaciated 
wheelbarrow  men,  staggering  along  with  enormous 
loads — a  ton  or  two — which  they  balanced  and  pushed ; 
beggars  by  the  thousand,  diseased,  half-naked  and  ter¬ 
ribly  insistent;  the  dirt  and  squalor  of  the  “homes”  that 


96 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


open  out  on  smelly  streets  and  dusty  roads — all  had  a 
most  depressing  effect.  I  felt  as  though  my  Christian 
character  was  fast  oozing  out  when  I  had  to  turn  away 
without  giving  a  cent  of  relief  to  begging  mothers 
carrying  crying,  naked  babies  trying  in  vain  to  suck  a 
little  milk  from  empty  breasts.  What  would  Christ  do 
for  the  countless  beggars  and  the  desperately  poor,  were 
He  in  China  today — was  an  ever-insistent  thought. 
Never  has  awful  poverty  been  so  forced  upon  the 
writer’s  consciousness. 

One  of  China’s  most  desperate  needs  is  increased 
ability  in  production.  But  production  must  be  devel¬ 
oped  under  a  system  that  will  secure  distribution  of 
profits  and  also  of  the  products  themselves.  China’s 
poverty  and  the  suffering  of  her  tens  of  millions  of 
desperately  poor  can  be  overcome  only  when  thousands 
of  millions  of  mechanical  horsepower  take  the  place  of 
human  muscles,  and  those  human  muscles,  guided  by 
brains,  do  what  mere  brute  force  can  never  accomplish. 

The  Industrial  Revolution 

Deplore  as  one  must  the  growing  evils  of  unregulated 
industrialism,  the  economic  salvation  of  China  can  come 
only  through  mass  production  by  steam-driven  ma¬ 
chinery  and  steam  transportation.  Already  this  has 
begun  on  a  scale  sufficiently  large  and  sufficiently  selfish 
to  cause  anxiety.  Big  cities  swollen  with  industrial 
workers  are  a  new  factor  in  the  life  of  China.  Her 
ancient  family  system  is  beginning  to  crumble  under 
the  impact  of  occidental  industrialism.  Such  restraints 
upon  conscienceless  capital  as  have  in  a  measure  curbed 
its  evils  in  the  West  are  practically  unknown  in  China 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  CHINA  97 


— and  are  impracticable  until  China  develops  a  real 
national  government,  or  at  least  many  provincial  gov¬ 
ernments  enlightened  and  strong  enough  to  enforce 
obedience  on  grasping  capitalists  who,  as  yet,  are  largely 
foreign.  The  problems  of  industrialism  in  China  are 
certain  to  grow  much  worse. 

The  Christian  Movement  in  China 

The  Christian  movement  in  China  is  extraordinarily 
fascinating  because  of  its  vastness,  variety  of  forms, 
activities,  institutions,  successes  and  virile  personalities. 
Their  leaders  prepared  a  remarkable  survey  bound  in 
a  huge  volume,  as  a  basis  of  information  for  the  Na¬ 
tional  Conference  of  1921.  It  was  entitled  “The  Chris¬ 
tian  Occupation  of  China,”  and  dealt  with  each  prov¬ 
ince  separately  as  well  as  with  the  country  as  a  whole. 
It  also  includes  many  articles  of  a  general  nature 
describing  industrial,  educational  and  political  con¬ 
ditions.  That  enormous  volume  of  five  hundred  seventy 
pages,  eleven  by  fourteen  inches  in  size  and  weighing 
five  or  more  pounds,  must  be  seen  and  handled  to  gain 
some  appreciation  of  what  is  happening  in  China  from 
the  standpoint  of  Protestant  missions.  Manifestly,  even 
in  a  score  of  pages,  the  writer  could  not  give  an 
adequate  picture  of  what  it  contains  nor  of  the  religious 
developments  taking  place  in  China.  Inadequate,  how¬ 
ever,  as  any  brief  summary  must  be,  a  few  general 
statements  must  be  made  and  some  statistics  given 
which  may  provide  a  slight  clew  to  the  reality. 

The  extent  to  which  China  has  been  already  occupied 
by  Protestant  forces  is  impressive,  although  those  who 


98 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


are  at  work  in  the  various  fields  are  dismayed  by  the 
regions  still  unoccupied.  The  figures  available  are  for 
1921  and,  though  not  up  to  date,  they  will  nevertheless 
give  a  fair  idea  of  the  present  forces.  The  mission¬ 
aries  listed  in  the  Protestant  evangelical  missions  num¬ 
bered  6,636  *  of  whom  2,495  were  men  and  4,141  were 
women.  Chinese  paid  workers  totaled  24,732.  Of 
these  1,065  were  ordained  pastors;  7,850  were  evangel¬ 
ists;  2,341  were  Bible  women  and  the  remainder  were 
educators,  physicians  and  nurses.  Regularly  established 
Churches  numbered  6,391  and  additional  evangelistic 
centers  were  reckoned  at  8,886.  Adult  Protestant 
church  members  numbered  345,853  of  whom  217,151 
were  men  and  128,702  were  women.  The  total  Prot¬ 
estant  constituency  is  calculated  to  be  about  six  hun¬ 
dred  twenty  thousand. 

Schools  carried  on  by  the  Protestant  workers  aggre¬ 
gated  6,890  of  which  6,599  provided  lower  and  higher 
primary  education;  the  total  number  of  pupils  num¬ 
bered  199,194  of  whom  15,231  were  in  the  secondary 
and  college  institutions. 

At  the  time  of  the  Washington  Conference  for  the 
Limitation  of  Armament  a  careful  estimate  was  made 
of  expenditures  in  the  Far  East,  from  the  beginning, 
by  all  the  American  Foreign  Mission  Boards.  Though 
the  records  of  many  societies  for  the  early  decades  are 
not  complete,  it  was  found  that  this  sum  amounted  to 
over  one  hundred  and  ten  million  dollars — a  striking 
evidence  of  the  persistence  and  long-visioned  faith  of 
missionaries  and  Christian  leaders  in  America. 

*  In  January,  1923,  the  number  of  missionaries  was  6,691. 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  CHINA  99 


Roman  Catholic  Missions  have  been  carried  on  in 
China  for  several  centuries.  According  to  the  latest 
available  figures  their  entire  constituency  numbers 
1,994,483,  while  the  foreign  priests  number  1,363  and 
the  Chinese  priests  963. 

No  account  of  the  Christian  movement  in  China, 
however  brief,  should  fail  to  mention  the  “indigenous 
church”  now  rapidly  developing,  wholly  free  from  mis¬ 
sionary  and  denominational  control.  It  elects  three 
members  to  the  National  Christian  Council.  Its  lead¬ 
ers  are  strong  men,  and  as  a  rule  it  has  the  heartiest 
sympathy  and  moral  support  of  the  missionaries.  It  is 
evidently  the  Church  of  the  future — the  Chinese  Inde¬ 
pendent  Church  that  will  increasingly  absorb  into  itself 
the  stronger  churches  of  the  various  denominations. 

Brief  mention  should  also  be  made  of  the  remarkable 
Christian  General  Y.  S.  Feng,  sometimes  called  the 
“Cromwell  of  China.”  His  ardent  Christian  faith  has 
permeated  his  entire  force,  a  majority  both  of  his  staff 
and  his  men  having  become  earnest  Christians  and 
church  members.  His  troops  are  educated  in  the  Bible 
as  well  as  in  some  trade.  Wherever  he  is  located,  social 
conditions  are  promptly  rectified,  and  gambling  and 
prostitution  are  abolished.  While  the  people  fear  and 
hate  all  other  soldiers,  those  of  General  Feng  are  wel¬ 
comed.  Evangelistic  services  are  often  conducted,  and 
with  marked  results.  During  the  past  spring  some 
fifteen  hundred  soldiers  were  baptized.  The  conversion 
of  General  Feng  was  due  to  what  he  saw  of  Christians 
and  Christian  missionaries  during  the  persecutions  of 
the  Boxer  uprising  in  1900. 


100  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


Occidental  Education 

A  brief  summary  of  the  public  school  system  is  im¬ 
perative  for  any  one  who  desires  to  appreciate  what  is 
happening  in  China.  The  statistics  are  those  compiled 
by  the  Chinese  National  Association  for  the  Advance¬ 
ment  of  Education  during  the  year  ending  April,  1923. 
The  classification  shows  the  number  of  pupils  and 
teachers  in  each  of  the  lower  primary,  higher  primary, 
industrial,  middle,  normal,  and  professional  schools  and 
in  the  colleges  and  universities.  The  statistics  include 
schools  conducted  by  Protestants  but  not  those  con¬ 
ducted  by  Roman  Catholics.  The  total  number  of 
schools  is  given  as  178,751,  teachers  and  officers  num¬ 
bering  288,142  and  pupils  6,819,486.  Of  these  93.67%' 
are  males  and  6.33%  females.  Of  course  the  vast 
majority  of  these  pupils  are  in  the  lower  primary 
schools,  but  the  number  in  middle,  normal  and  indus¬ 
trial  schools  exceeds  two  hundred  thousand,  while  the 
pupils  in  the  colleges  and  universities  number  34,880. 
The  total  expenditures  for  these  schools  is  placed  at 
$59,424,567  (Mex.).  It  is  roughly  estimated  that  the 
number  of  pupils  still  attending  the  traditional 
“schools”  exceeds  the  number  of  those  in  the  modern 
schools.  It  need  hardly  be  said  that  the  number  of 
qualified  teachers  is  woefully  deficient.  This  is,  no 
doubt,  one  important  reason  for  the  disorders  and 
“strikes.”  But  there  are  also  a  number  of  able,  even 
brilliant  educators.  The  whole  movement  is  full  of 
driving  optimism. 

Powerful  influences  working  for  the  regeneration  of 
China  flow  from  these  modern  educational  institutions, 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  CHINA  101 

governmental  and  Christian.  China’s  program  of  oc¬ 
cidental  education  is  one  of  the  immediate  products  of 
the  Christian  movement  in  China  for  the  past  fifty 
years.  This  movement  has  shown  the  way  and,  to  a 
considerable  degree,  produced  the  men  who  have  made 
possible  what  is  now  taking  place.  Not  a  few  of  the 
leading  educators  in  the  public  school  system  are  out¬ 
standing  Christians.  Now  that  occidental  methods  of 
education  have  become  popular,  the  national  and  local 
governments  have  officially  undertaken  to  promote  it 
and  already  have  many  institutions  patterned  on  west¬ 
ern  models.  Occidental  education  accordingly  is  no 
longer  dependent  on  Missions  and  Churches.  Not  a 
few  strong  Chinese  leaders,  educationally  speaking,  are 
non-Christian  and  a  few  are  positively  anti-Christian. 
Non-Christian  and  anti-Christian  educators,  moreover, 
from  Europe  and  America  are  from  time  to  time  visit¬ 
ing  China  and  doing  what  they  can  to  set  the  students 
of  China  against  the  Christian  movement. 

Japan's  New  Policies  in  China 

The  restoration  to  China  of  Kiaochow,  the  Shan¬ 
tung  Railway  and  various  properties  in  that  Province, 
took  place  step  by  step  in  the  early  part  of  1923,  as 
rapidly  as  China  was  prepared  to  assume  responsibility. 
Lack  of  Chinese  readiness  was  a  cause  not  only  of 
delay  but  also  of  confusion.  Since  the  transfer,  many 
charges  have  been  made  of  Chinese  incompetence  and 
mismanagement.  Some  of  them  seem  to  be  gross  ex¬ 
aggerations.  Anticipations  of  Chinese  efficiency  have 
certainly  been  disappointed.  Charges  were  made 
against  the  Japanese  of  collusion  with  bandits,  of  un- 


102  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


warranted  sale  of  city  lots  and  lease  rights  to  their  own 
nationals,  of  many  shady  transactions  for  retaining 
power  and  privilege  while  restoring  the  form  of  legal 
possession  to  China.  That  there  were  evil-minded 
men,  both  Japanese  and  Chinese,  who  sought  to  fish 
in  troubled  waters  is  no  doubt  true.  It  is  to  be  remem¬ 
bered  that  suspicion  and  prejudice  on  each  side  tend 
to  create  and  circulate  stories  against  the  other  which, 
on  careful  investigation,  are  found  to  be  either  ex¬ 
aggerations  of  facts,  generalizations  from  rare  in¬ 
stances,  or  even  absolute  falsehoods.  Fair-minded 
persons  will  be  slow  to  accept  sweeping  charges  of 
wholesale  wrong-doing  on  either  side. 

The  Japanese  garrison,  maintained  for  many  years 
in  Hankow,  was  entirely  removed  during  the  summer 
of  1922  and  the  wireless  plant  dismantled  since  the 
two  Governments  could  not  agree  on  a  price  for  its 
sale.  The  withdrawal  of  the  Japanese  army  of  occupa¬ 
tion  from  Hankow  in  July,  from  Siberia  in  October, 
and  from  Shantung  in  December,  1922,  had  important 
effects  on  the  attitude  of  foreigners  in  China  toward 
Japan,  but  so  far  as  the  writer  could  learn,  it  did  not 
make  the  anticipated  impression  on  Chinese. 

In  March,  1923,  the  Chinese  Government  sent  a  note 
to  Japan  declaring  that  the  treaties  of  1915,  which  re¬ 
sulted  from  the  “Twenty-One  Demands”  and  the 
“Ultimatum,”  were  not  valid,  never  having  been  sanc¬ 
tioned  by  the  Chinese  Diet,  and  that  therefore  the  lease 
of  the  Liaotung  Peninsula  lapsed  on  March  23rd.  The 
Chinese  Government  therefore  requested  the  Japanese 
Government  to  appoint  a  Commission  to  deal  with  the 
question  of  its  return.  The  Japanese  Government  in 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  CHINA  103 


reply  insisted  that  these  treaties  were  legal,  according 
to  international  law,  and  declared  that  the  Chinese 
communication  was  an  impertinence.  In  the  judgment 
of  practically  all  foreigners  in  the  Far  East,  whether 
in  China  or  Japan,  both  notes  were  unfortunate  and 
only  served  to  aggravate  the  tension  between  the  two 
countries  which  had  been  noticeably  improving.  It 
is  difficult  to  see  what  good  result  was  secured  by  either 
side. 


“Humiliation  Day” 

“Humiliation  Day”  was  observed  apparently  all  over 
China,  chiefly  by  students  and  merchants.  It  was  ob¬ 
served  in  North  China  on  the  seventh  of  May,  the  day 
of  the  presentation  by  Japan  of  her  ultimatum  on  the 
“Twenty-One  Demands,”  and  in  South  China  on  the 
ninth  of  May,  the  day  of  the  acceptance  by  Yuan 
Shikai,  of  the  terms  of  the  ultimatum.  A  special  holi¬ 
day  was  granted  to  the  schools  and  in  many  cases,  in 
addition  to  parades,  patriotic  addresses  and  dramatic 
performances  were  utilized  to  instruct  the  people  as 
to  the  meaning  of  the  day  and  to  inspire  them  with 
patriotic  enthusiasm.  Though  the  promotion  of  inter¬ 
national  ill-will  is  to  be  deplored,  the  real  significance 
of  the  day  lies  in  the  fact  that  now  for  the  first  time 
China  is  creating  a  national  soul  for  herself,  a  unified 
self-consciousness.  This  is  a  matter  of  the  greatest 
importance.  The  writer  was  privileged  to  attend  one 
of  those  school  exercises  at  which  the  students  pre¬ 
sented  three  plays.  Elements  of  self-criticism  were  in¬ 
cluded,  showing  that  the  students  are  beginning  to  see 
that  China’s  deplorable  international  plight  is  due  in 


104  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


part  at  least  to  the  incompetence  and  wrong-doings  of 
her  own  people  and  especially  of  her  official  classes. 

A  new  anti-Japanese  boycott  was  announced  early  in 
April,  1923.  Behind  it  were  said  to  be  the  merchant 
and  manufacturing  classes  which  expected  to  reap  finan¬ 
cial  profit  by  substituting  Chinese  goods  and  trade  for 
Japanese.  Most  diverse  opinions  were  expressed  to 
the  writer  by  supposedly  well  informed  persons  in  the 
same  cities  in  regard  to  the  success  of  the  boycott. 
Japanese  traders  at  once  declared  the  boycott  to  be  a 
failure.  During  the  summer,  however,  the  Japanese 
press  declared  that  the  boycott  was  becoming  distress¬ 
ingly  effective.  Important  meetings  were  held  in  Japan 
shortly  before  the  great  earthquake  to  induce  the  Gov¬ 
ernment  to  take  strong  measures  to  stop  it.  Only  when 
statistics  are  available  a  year  or  two  hence  will  it  be 
possible  to  know  what  really  happened. 

The  Opium  Curse 

Opium  smuggling  is  one  of  the  constant  themes  of 
discussion.  Opium  is  apparently  being  produced  in  large 
quantities  in  many  of  the  provinces  either  under  the 
connivance  or  sometimes  even  at  the  command  of  the 
local  authorities.  In  some  regions,  it  was  commonly 
said,  soldiers  are  paid  in  opium  which  they  are  ex¬ 
pected  to  sell  and  thus  secure  their  wages  in  money. 
The  laws  of  the  national  Government  still  forbid  its 
production  and  transportation,  and  Customs  officials, 
under  foreign  control  and  administering  national  laws, 
maintain  a  constant  search  for  the  contraband  stuff, 
which  is  of  course  confiscated  and  destroyed.  Rewards 
for  information  are  so  large  that  dissatisfied  members 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  CHINA  105 


of  smuggling  gangs  giye  facts  leading  to  the  capture 
sometimes  of  tons  at  a  time.  One  such  case  occurred 
while  the  writer  was  in  Hongkong,  the  opium  having 
been  smuggled  from  the  East  Indies.  All  nationalities 
and  races  are  involved  in  the  contemptible  and  dis¬ 
astrous  business,  United  States  citizens  with  the  rest. 
A  strong  anti-opium  society  is  fighting  the  evil  vigor¬ 
ously  and  is  rendering  service  of  the  highest  value.  It 
is  composed  of  both  Chinese  and  foreigners  and  has 
headquarters  in  Peking.  It  is  doubtful,  however,  if 
China  can  possibly  overcome  this  evil  until  she  estab¬ 
lishes  an  efficient  national  and  provincial  system  of 
government  administered  by  honest  officials.  The 
opium  situation  looks  decidedly  desperate,  but  before 
Americans  are  entitled  to  sit  in  judgment  on  China 
they  should  familiarize  themselves  with  the  deplorable 
drug  situation  in  their  own  land. 

Bandits 

Banditry  seems  to  exist  in  practically  every  part  of 
China.  The  majority  of  the  bandits  are  said  to  be  dis¬ 
charged  soldiers.  There  are  probably  several  score- 
thousand,  and  the  situation  is  growing  steadily  worse 
with  no  solution  in  sight  until  an  effective  government 
is  established.  In  the  autumn  of  1922,  between  ten 
and  twenty  thousand  bandits  raided  and  looted  a  con¬ 
siderable  area  in  central  China  (Shensi)  and  captured 
nearly  a  score  of  foreigners.  These  were  held  until 
General  Wu  Pei-fu  agreed  to  pay  the  ransom  and  also 
to  incorporate  the  bandits  into  his  regular  army.  This 
bad  procedure  has  had  its  natural  effect.  Early  in  May, 
1923,  bandits  in  Shantung  derailed  the  daily  express 


106  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 

from  Shanghai  to  Peking,  capturing  and  carrying  off 
to  the  mountains  a  score  of  foreigners,  and  some  two 
hundred  Chinese.  The  bandits  demanded  as  a  reward 
for  the  release  of  the  foreigners  not  only  enrollment 
in  the  regular  army,  back  pay,  immunity  from  punish¬ 
ment,  withdrawal  of  all  national  and  provincial  troops 
from  four  “townships/’  but  also  several  cannon,  ma¬ 
chine  guns  and  much  ammunition.  After  more  than 
two  months’  negotiations,  the  foreigners  were  all  re¬ 
leased,  a  large  part  of  the  bandits’  terms  having  been 
met.  Thereupon  the  various  foreign  Governments  con¬ 
cerned  presented  a  joint  demand  for  indemnities,  penal¬ 
ties  and  guarantees,  which  to  many  seem  to  imperil  the 
new  order  of  international  relations  inaugurated  by 
the  Washington  Conference.  The  Chinese  Govern¬ 
ment,  such  as  there  is  of  it,  was  reported  (September 
24,  1923)  to  have  replied  to  the  joint  communication 
from  the  legations,  denying  liability  for  damages,  re¬ 
fusing  to  give  the  guarantees  demanded  or  to  dismiss 
permanently  certain  specified  high  officials.  Thus  the 
relations  of  all  these  Governments  with  China  has  be¬ 
come  increasingly  difficult.  Meanwhile  banditry  goes 
on  undiminished. 

Governmental  Bankruptcy 

The  National  Government,  recognized  by  the 
Powers,  is  at  the  very  lowest  ebb  of  efficiency  and  au¬ 
thority.  The  real  authority  in  China  is  in  the  hands 
of  the  Tuchuns,  military  leaders  able  to  collect  large 
sums  of  money  with  which  they  support  their  private 
armies.  They  rule  the  areas  under  their  domination, 
and  snap  their  fingers  at  the  so-called  Peking  Govern- 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  CHINA  107 


ment.  They  are  in  fact  little  more  than  super-bandits. 
Chang  Tso-lin  in  Manchuria  was  at  one  time  a  small 
bandit  who  became  so  successful  that  he  now  domi¬ 
nates  all  of  that  enormous  territory,  three  times  as 
large  as  Japan.  Each  Tuchun  professes  to  desire  the 
“unification”  of  China;  but  of  course  he  wishes  that 
“unification”  to  take  place  under  his  direction  and  with 
the  personal  elimination  of  all  rivals.  This  seems  to 
be  the  real  significance  of  the  civil  war  going  on  in 
China.  The  “people”  appear  little  concerned  about  it; 
they  are  going  on  with  “business  as  usual,”  so  far  as 
the  bandits  and  super-bandits  do  not  interfere. 

In  the  meantime  the  “Peking  Government”  is  re¬ 
ported  to  be  completely  bankrupt.  Its  expenditures, 
it  is  said,  amount  to  about  five  million  dollars  monthly, 
while  its  income  is  less  than  five  hundred  thousand. 
Revenues  that  properly  belong  to  it  are  arbitrarily 
seized  by  the  Tuchuns.  Accordingly,  it  has  been  de¬ 
faulting  on  all  debts,  both  foreign  and  internal,  that 
are  not  secured  by  customs  receipts.  These,  however, 
are  fairly  steady  and  are  increasing  because  under 
treaty  arrangements  the  administration  of  the  Cus¬ 
toms,  the  Salt  Gabelle  and  the  Post  Office  was  placed 
in  the  hands  of  foreigners.  The  financial  outlook  of 
the  Chinese  Government  is  very  black.  Not  until  a 
real  Government  arises  can  the  situation  improve  very 
much. 

China’s  railways  also  are  running  down  more  or 
less  rapidly.  Being  with  a  few  exceptions  govern¬ 
ment-owned  and  managed  they  should  prove  sources  of 
fairly  good  income.  Through  the  interference  of  local 
Tuchuns,  however,  and  the  personal  graft  and  the 


108  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


nepotism  so  rife,  they  have  practically  ceased  to  pro¬ 
vide  income  for  the  Government.  Worse,  they  are  not 
even  paying  interest  charges  on  loans,  while  the  road¬ 
beds  and  the  rolling  stock  are  steadily  deteriorating. 
It  is  commonly  said  that  at  the  present  rate  of  deteriora¬ 
tion  all  roads  not  under  the  care  of  foreigners  will 
cease  to  function  before  long.  One  Chinese  railway 
official  said  to  the  writer  that  the  only  hope  for  China’s 
railways  was  their  administration  by  foreigners,  as 
in  the  case  of  the  Customs  and  the  Salt  Gabelle. 

Whether  or  not  the  recently  and  corruptly  elected 
President,  the  super-Tuchun  of  Central  China,  Mar¬ 
shal  Tsao  Kun,  will  be  able  to  restore  order,  re-estab¬ 
lish  authority,  secure  financial  resources,  recover  na¬ 
tional  solvency  and  international  credit,  set  up  efficient 
and  honest  railroad  administration,  suppress  banditry 
and  local  Tuchuns  and  gain  nation-wide  recognition 
for  the  Peking  Government,  is  a  question,  the  answer 
to  which  all  are  eagerly  waiting. 

Progress  Nevertheless 

In  spite  of  these  conditions  it  is  astonishing  how 
business  and  education  are  progressing.  Imports  are 
increasing,  especially  of  machinery;  never  before  have 
the  import  duties  brought  in  such  large  sums,  and  the 
amount  seems  to  be  steadily  increasing.  Although 
salaries  of  government  school  teachers  are  always  far 
in  arrears,  and  dates  of  payment  wholly  uncertain, 
the  teachers  stick  to  their  jobs.  The  demand  for  higher 
education  is  already  far  beyond  the  capacity  of  the 
institutions  provided.  A  mighty  ferment  of  new 
thought  in  every  line  is  stirring  the  young  life.  Many 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  CHINA  109 


new  movements  are  vigorously  forging  ahead  as  al¬ 
ready  noted — in  education,  in  language  reform,  in  the 
use  of  fewer  ideographs  and  in  the  popularization  of 
the  newly  invented  phonetics.  There  is  a  renaissance 
movement ;  a  neo-Confucian  movement ;  an  anti-Chris¬ 
tian  movement ;  a  physical  education  movement ;  a 
feminist  movement.  Labor  is  becoming  self-conscious ; 
strikes  are  frequent ;  in  central  China  the  writer  saw  a 
strike  of  ’riksha  men  carrying  banners  inscribed 
“Workers  of  the  World. ”  In  this  particular  case  they 
struck  first  and  the  next  day  informed  the  owners  of 
the  ’rikshas  as  to  their  demands ! 

Widespread  Pessimism 

Among  the  foreigners,  pessimism  about  China’s 
future  is  the  rule.  Since  the  fall  of  the  Empire,  China 
has  been  going  down  grade,  and  “never  more  rapidly 
than  now.”  The  Republic  is  an  “utter  failure”  and 
its  long  continuance  is  “impossible.”  “The  sooner 
China  returns  to  a  monarchy  the  better.”  “Th^  peo¬ 
ple  do  not  understand  any  form  of  government  but 
monarchy.”  Anything  else  is  bound  to  fail.  “Until 
a  stable  government  arises  that  really  governs,  some 
form  of  international  intervention  is  inevitable.”  Such 
are  the  ideas  of  a  large  section  of  the  foreigners  in 
China. 


Fundamental  Optimism 

The  only  group  of  foreigners  in  China  that  gave 
the  impression  of  holding  an  optimistic  outlook  were 
the  missionaries.  They  have  not  closed  their  eyes  to 
the  present  difficulties  and  defects;  but  they  take  the 


110  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


long  view,  as  is  natural  to  missionaries.  They  do 
not  expect  results  from  their  labors  in  a  year  or  a 
decade.  They  know  that  national  education  and  funda¬ 
mental  changes  in  moral  ideals  and  character  are  mat¬ 
ters  of  decades  and  centuries.  Merchants  must  have 
profits  in  a  few  years  at  the  latest ;  otherwise  they  face 
failures.  Not  so  the  missionaries.  Moreover,  mis¬ 
sionaries  come  in  contact  with  men  and  women  of 
sterling  character  in  whom  they  come  to  have  com¬ 
plete  confidence.  In  concrete  details  they  see  significant 
changes  in  mental  outlook,  in  understanding,  in  prac¬ 
tical  efficiency,  taking  place  in  individuals ;  and  they 
believe  that  as  soon  as  enough  of  these  modern-minded 
and  trained  young  men  and  women  get  into  the  field 
and  into  action  China  will  start  upward.  They  have 
seen  enough  and  experienced  enough  of  the  Chinese 
people  to  have  full  assurance  for  their  future.  Most 
missionaries  are  fundamentally  optimistic  about  China. 

And  so  are  the  Chinese  themselves.  The  great  na¬ 
tional  achievements  of  the  long  past  convince  them, 
without  particularly  thinking  about  it,  that  they  are 
not  inferior  to  any  nation  or  race  and  that  it  is  merely 
a  matter  of  time  for  them  to  acquire  the  knowledge 
and  the  methods  that  will  carry  them  to  the  front  rank 
among  the  world’s  peoples.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  the 
difficulty  and  the  length  of  the  journey  before  them 
are  not  appreciated.  But  that  matters  little.  They 
are  confident  and  courageous  and  they  are  going  to 
try.  Beyond  a  doubt  they  will  try  and  try  again  until 
they  succeed.  There  will  of  course  be  mistakes;  but 
young  China  is  plastic  and  independent  and  adven¬ 
turous  and  determined.  In  answer  to  critics,  Chinese 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  CHINA  111 


are  already  pointing  to  the  long  periods  of  turmoil  and 
disorder  in  other  lands  in  transition  from  older  to 
modern  forms  of  government.  China  is  undergoing 
in  a  single  generation  what  western  countries  have  ex¬ 
perienced  in  three  centuries — the  intellectual  revolution, 
the  industrial  revolution  and  the  political  revolution. 
Of  course  there  is  turmoil  and  of  course  it  takes  time. 
But  there  is  less  turmoil  and  strife  in  China  than  in 
Europe  today.  Europe  is  an  armed  camp  in  which 
all  the  people  of  each  little  nation  are  alive  with  feverish 
nationalism.  Not  so  in  China.  And  there  is  more 
unity  in  China  than  in  Europe.  Moreover,  what  west¬ 
ern  government  is  yet  perfect  and  satisfactory  ?  Young 
China  therefore  does  not  take  seriously  to  heart  the 
pessimistic  warnings  of  foreigners. 

Restoration  of  Monarchy  Not  Practicable 

As  for  the  statement  that  there  is  no  hope  for  China 
save  in  the  return  to  a  monarchy,  the  writer  found 
no  Chinese  who  did  not  utterly  repudiate  it.  It  is 
unthinkable  to  millions  who  would  resent  and  oppose 
it  as  vigorously  as  they  would  foreign  intervention. 
In  every  city  multitudes  are  taking  personal  interest  in 
politics,  national  and  local.  They  are  seeking  to  realize 
the  new  ideal  of  government  “of  the  people,  by  the 
people,  for  the  people,”  a  phrase  which  they  are  quot¬ 
ing.  A  new  spirit  is  revitalizing  China.  It  will  not 
brook  a  return  to  the  old  political  wine-skins  that  were 
burst  by  the  new  wine  a  decade  ago.  The  Manchu- 
political  wine-skins  were  utterly  rotten.  They  could 
not  hold  together  then.  Much  less  can  they  be  patched 
together  now. 


112  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


The  only  conceivable  method  for  the  establishment 
of  a  monarchy  would  be  through  the  complete  mili¬ 
tary  victory  of  one  of  the  present  Tuchuns.  The  writer 
found  no  Chinese  who  thought  this  possible.  More¬ 
over,  none  of  these  super-bandits  is  sufficiently  edu¬ 
cated  or  has  a  sufficiently  strong  personality  to  be  the 
permanent,  autocratic  ruler  of  all  China. 

China  and  the  World 

It  is  evident  that  the  world  will  have  in  China  a 
problem  for  years,  probably  for  decades  to  come.  The 
danger  is  that  the  nations  of  the  West  may  become 
impatient  while  China  is  learning.  China  is  passing 
through  its  period  of  adolescence  and  no  doubt  will 
make  unreasonable  demands.  The  somewhat  domi¬ 
neering  and  arrogant  West  is  likely  to  insist  on  for¬ 
eign-made  programs  and  on  quick  results.  They  will 
be  essentially  unreasonable,  and  will  arouse  resentment 
in  China.  Westerners  who  are  seeking  a  Warless 
World  should  do  their  utmost  to  guide  the  public  opin¬ 
ions  of  their  respective  lands  into  an  attitude  of  appre¬ 
ciation  of  China,  of  recognition  of  her  essential  great¬ 
ness,  and  of  sympathy  for  her  special  problems.  We 
must  beget  a  spirit  of  sincere  goodwill  and  of  deter¬ 
mined  patience.  We  must  see  to  it  that  our  traders 
and  bankers  do  not  push  demands  and  create  conditions 
that  can  evoke  only  resentment  and  opposition.  We 
must  seek  to  give  to  China  such  a  full  measure  of 
justice  and  even  of  positive  helpfulness,  that  there  shall 
be  no  danger  of  creating  a  militarized  China;  for  a 
militarized  and  indignant  China  would  be  a  menace 
to  the  entire  world. 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  CHINA  113 


A  Modern  Miracle  in  the  Making 

The  most  hopeful  single  element  in  this  rather  dark 
picture  is  the  definite  impression  of  millions  of  Chi¬ 
nese  who  believe  there  are  white  men  whom  they  can 
absolutely  trust  because  they  are  controlled  by  the  spirit 
of  goodwill  and  helpfulness.  This  was  not  true^  a 
hundred  or  even  fifty  years  ago.  And,  on  the  other 
hand,  there  are  over  six  thousand  Protestant  mission¬ 
aries,  with  hundreds  of  thousands  of  supporters  in 
the  home  lands,  who  believe  in,  trust,  and  love  the 
Chinese.  These  are  facts  of  utmost  significance.  A 
great  modern  miracle  is  in  the  making.  The  reconcilia¬ 
tion  of  the  great  races  has  begun,  a  fact  full  of  meaning 
for  present  decades,  as  well  as  for  centuries  ahead. 
This  is  a  by-product  of  Missions,  a  foundation  essential 
for  the  final  peace  of  the  world. 

What  agency  in  the  West  has  more  responsibility 
or  better  opportunity  for  promoting  this  racial  recon¬ 
ciliation  than  the  Church  Universal  ?  It  is  not  enough, 
however,  to  send  missionaries  and  teachers  and  phi¬ 
lanthropists  to  China.  The  Church  in  each  land  has 
the  grave  responsibility  of  scrutinizing  the  policies  and 
the  deeds  of  their  respective  governments  and  of  eco¬ 
nomic  and  industrial  leaders.  International  relations 
cannot  be  safely  left  to  the  action  of  mere  economic 
forces  and  interests.  Justice  and  goodwill  between 
races  and  nations  must  take  a  leading  role  in  con¬ 
trolling  those  policies  if  we  are  to  maintain  permanent 
peace  between  the  nations  of  the  East  and  West. 
Failure  at  this  point  will  inevitably  lead  to  the  mili¬ 
tarization  of  China. 


114  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


The  Responsibility  and  Opportunity  of  American 

Christianity 

The  outstanding  conviction  therefore  with  which  the 
writer  returns  from  his  extended  trip  through  China, 
presenting  everywhere  the  Message  of  Goodwill  and 
the  invitation  to  her  Churches  to  cooperate  in  a  con¬ 
structive  world-program  for  a  Warless  World,  is  the 
conviction  that  the  Churches  of  America  have  re¬ 
sponsibilities  of  the  gravest  character.  We  must  not 
only  send  first-class  missionaries  to  China  and  hand¬ 
somely  equip  our  educational  institutions  in  that  land, 
but  we  must  Christianize  our  international  policies. 
The  Christian  movement  in  China  is  seriously  hampered 
by  the  fact  that  America’s  international  policies  are  not 
thoroughly  Christian.  As  a  nation  we  should  be  keen 
and  prompt  to  secure  fair  play  for  China  by  nations 
that  have  bad  habits  of  aggression  and  exploitation. 
And  we  must  ourselves  observe  faithfully  our  treaties 
with  China,  which  we  are  not  now  doing.  Few,  even 
of  us  Americans,  even  note  our  failures  and  violations. 
We  must  remove  from  our  laws  all  those  that  are 
intrinsically  humiliating  and  unjust  to  Chinese  in  our 
own  land.  We  must  do  to  China  and  for  Chinese  in 
America  what  they  ought  to  do  for  us,  were  our  places 
exchanged. 

The  United  States  of  America,  and  especially  its 
Churches,  have  unparalleled  opportunities  for  inter¬ 
national  and  inter-racial  service.  The  next  few  decades 
bid  fair  to  be  the  crucial  period  in  world  history.  World 
goodwill  and  mutual  service,  or  world  downfall — 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  CHINA  115 


that  seems  to  be  the  alternative.  In  determining  this 
alternative  America  has  more  to  say  at  present  than 
any  other  nation.  In  this  crisis  the  Churches  of  Amer¬ 
ica  hold  the  decisive  position. 


Chapter  VIII 

SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  JAPAN 
The  Christian  Movement 

THE  Christian  movement  in  Japan  is  not  easily 
described  or  estimated.  It  has  been  an  impor¬ 
tant  factor  in  making  modern  Japan.  Few,  even  among 
the  Japanese,  realize  how  much  Japan  owes  to  such 
early  missionaries  and  educators  as  Verbeck,  Brown, 
Clark,  Jaynes,  Davis  and  Neesima  for  the  early  adop¬ 
tion  of  the  fundamental  principles  that  have  controlled 
her  phenomenal  transformation  and  development  since 
1868.  Many  other  powerful  influences  from  abroad, 
both  secular  and  Christian,  have  also  combined  in  pro¬ 
ducing  the  Japan  of  today.  The  nation  from  the 
highest  authorities  down  have  from  almost  the  very 
beginning  sent  their  best  thinkers,  administrators  and 
students  to  foreign  lands  to  learn  directly  from  their 
most  advanced  teachers  and  institutions. 

Nevertheless  the  contribution  which  the  Christian 
movement  has  made  and  is  still  making  to  Japan’s 
development  in  the  life  of  the  spirit  is  an  important 
factor  that  no  fair-minded  student  can  afford  to 
neglect. 

The  latest  available  statistics  of  the  Christian  move¬ 
ment  in  Japan  are  those  for  1922.  The  total  number 

of  missionaries  was  1,594,  of  whom  495  were  men. 

n6 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  JAPAN  117 


Ordained  Protestant  Japanese  pastors  number  1,128 
(Roman  Catholic  priests  39)  ;  unordained  evangelists 
2,096  and  women  workers  1,478,  bringing  the  force 
of  Japanese  workers  to  4,667.  There  were  1,615  or¬ 
ganized  churches,  297  Protestant  self-supporting 
churches,  and  in  addition  864  regular  preaching  places. 

Adult  Protestant  church  members  number  143,399, 
with  a  Sunday-school  enrollment  of  181,920.  Roman 
Catholic  Christians  number  75,251  (including  baptized 
children),  and  Russian  Orthodox  Christians  were  re¬ 
ported  as  5,299  (not  including  children  9,321)  making 
a  total  Christian  body  in  Japan  of  225,000.  Contribu¬ 
tions  for  church  work  by  the  Protestant  churches 
amounted  to  1,570,491  yen.  These  three  groups  of 
Christians  are  quite  as  distinct  as  in  other  lands,  al¬ 
though  the  Russian  Orthodox  and  the  Protestant  Chris¬ 
tians  do  not  reveal  any  particular  opposition,  members 
occasionally  passing  back  and  forth  between  them. 

Changing  Japan 

The  writer  made  constant  effort  to  get  at  the  think¬ 
ing  of  Japan,  not  only  of  the  governing  and  capitalistic 
groups  but  also  of  the  labor  classes,  the  young  men, 
the  conservatives,  the  liberals,  the  university  and  col¬ 
lege  groups  and  the  women.  There  is  practically  unani¬ 
mous  opinion  that  as  compared  with  ten  years  ago,  or 
even  five,  a  new  Japan  has  come  into  existence.  A 
tremendous  revolution  in  the  life  of  the  spirit  has  taken 
place  in  consequence  of  the  Great  War  and  its  after 
effects  in  Europe,  especially  in  Russia. 

Not  a  few  look  upon  the  situation  with  unconcealed 


118  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


alarm.  They  anticipate  a  violent  revolution  within  a 
few  years.  Russian  propaganda,  open  as  well  as  secret, 
is  widespread.  No  one  knows  just  how  far  it  has 
affected  the  rank  and  file  of  the  working  classes,  agri¬ 
culturalists  as  well  as  industrialists;  but  all  agree  that 
working  Japan  is  no  longer  docile,  willingly  accepting 
the  leadership  of  a  paternalistic  government  or  of 
patronizing  employers.  As  in  other  lands,  labor  is 
talking  about  forcing  the  issue  and  taking  the  leader¬ 
ship.  The  writer  heard  quite  a  little  from  both  sides 
on  this  matter.  At  present  tenant  farmers  seem  to 
be  in  the  most  serious  straits  and  are  taking  rather 
extreme  positions  as  to  rights  of  land  ownership.  In 
some  sections  they  are  not  allowing  the  legal  owners 
to  sell  at  will,  claiming  certain  rights  in  the  land  them¬ 
selves.  In  some  sections  small  land  owners  are  refus¬ 
ing  in  large  numbers  to  pay  taxes.  This  seems  to  be 
forcing  the  Government  willy-nilly  toward  the  policy 
of  state  ownership  of  all  agricultural  land. 

Many  laborers  are  claiming  that  inasmuch  as  the 
capitalist  classes  never  voluntarily  release  their  grip 
on  special  privilege,  if  justice  and  a  fair  chance  are 
ever  to  be  gained  for  the  masses,  they  can  come  only 
by  force — that  is,  by  revolution.  Of  course  these  are 
“dangerous  ideas. ”  The  police  are  on  the  scent  of  all 
agitators  and  arrests  are  frequent.  One  labor  leader 
told  the  writer  that  a  violent  revolution  is  not  likely 
to  come  so  long  as  there  is  a  fair  amount  of  employ¬ 
ment.  However,  should  a  long  continued  period  of 
unemployment  arise  affecting  many  hundreds  of  thou¬ 
sands  of  workmen,  no  one  could  foretell  the  result. 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  JAPAN  119 


Students  and  Militarism 

It  is  significant  that  the  student  class  sympathizes 
generally  with  the  working  classes.  Both  classes  know 
quite  well  what  has  happened  in  foreign  lands,  the 
large  amount  of  personal  liberty  and  opportunity  there 
enjoyed,  and  the  rigid  limitations  in  every  direction  in 
Japan.  Scores  of  thousands  of  students  are  unable 
to  go  on  with  their  higher  education  wholly  because 
of  insufficient  accommodation.  They  know  the  enor¬ 
mous  sums  devoted  to  the  army  and  navy.  These  facts, 
with  the  warning  before  their  eyes  of  a  Germany 
humiliated  and  in  the  dust,  has  produced  a  strong  anti¬ 
militaristic  movement.  It  is  shared  by  the  working 
classes  who  see  in  the  military  establishment  the  foe 
to  their  hopes.  Radical  “pacifism”  is  not  unknown. 
Military  service  is  hated  by  most  and  rejected  by  a 
few.  The  refusal  of  some  to  take  the  oath  required 
of  soldiers  on  entering  the  service  is  a  matter  of  deep 
concern  to  the  authorities  and  is  freely  discussed  in 
the  press.  In  May,  1923,  an  effort  was  made  by  the 
military  authorities  to  stem  the  anti-military  tide 
among  the  students  by  starting  a  “Society  for  the 
Study  of  Military  Science”  in  one  of  the  largest  pri¬ 
vate  universities  in  Japan  (Waseda).  The  opening 
function  was  graced  by  some  thirty  army  and  navy 
high  officials — generals  and  admirals  dressed  in  full 
regalia,  their  breasts  resplendent  with  decorations.  To 
the  universal  astonishment  of  the  authorities  the  hall 
was  overcrowded  with  hundreds  of  students  who  were 
violently  anti-militaristic.  They  fearlessly  heckled  the 
speakers,  regardless  of  their  uniforms  and  decorations, 


120  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


and  the  meeting  broke  up  in  something  of  a  riot  when 
the  police  tried  to  enforce  order.  “Down  with  mili¬ 
tarism”  was  on  one  of  the  banners.  The  program 
of  the  militarists  was  so  obnoxious  to  the  student  body 
of  the  country  that  the  “Society  for  the  Study  of  Mili¬ 
tary  Science”  was  actually  disbanded.  The  solid  op¬ 
position  of  the  students  of  Japan  to  militarism  and  to 
all  efforts  to  militarize  the  rising  generation  became 
clear  to  all. 

Liberal  leaders  in  the  Diet  are  striving  through  pub¬ 
lic  discussion  and  by  legislation  to  bring  in  the  new 
order  as  soon  as  possible  in  a  legal  way  and  so  to  fore¬ 
stall  a  violent  revolution.  But  it  is  a  race  against  time 
and  against  many  blind  forces  of  opposition.  Liberals 
are  demanding  universal  male  suffrage  and  the  reduc¬ 
tion  of  the  army  by  one-half,  with  the  reduction  of 
taxes  and  the  multiplication  of  secondary  and  higher 
schools.  It  is  generally  expected  that  universal  male 
suffrage  will  be  secured  within  six  years. 

The  Washington  Conference 

The  success  of  the  Washington  Conference,  with  its 
removal  of  the  fear  of  war  with  America  in  the  near 
future,  was  a  great  boon  to  the  Liberal  Movement  in 
Japan.  Among  other  benefits,  the  danger  of  violent 
revolution  has  been  postponed  for  a  few  years  at  least. 
One  young  man,  however,  a  university  graduate  and 
for  a  few  years  an  associate  editor  of  one  of  the  great 
Tokyo  dailies,  told  the  writer  that  war  with  America 
with  certain  defeat  for  Japan,  to  be  surely  followed  by 
a  violent  revolution,  would  be  preferable  to  the  indefi¬ 
nite  continuation  of  present  industrial  and  social  condi- 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  JAPAN  121 

tions  in  Japan.  But  such  a  view  is  certainly  exceptional. 

In  every  section  of  Japan  and  among  all  classes  your 
representative  was  repeatedly  told  that,  while  there 
was  much  disappointment  over  the  Washington  Con¬ 
ference,  there  was  also  a  great  sense  of  relief  because 
of  the  removal  of  the  fear  of  an  early  conflict  with 
America.  The  disappointment  lay  partly  in  the  failure 
to  accomplish  more.  Many  told  the  writer  they  had 
hoped  all  battleships  and  battle  cruisers  would  be  com¬ 
pletely  condemned  and  destroyed. 

Not  a  few  declared  that  the  Washington  Conference 
was  a  serious  defeat  and  humiliation  for  Japan;  that 
the  ratio  for  capital  ships  should  have  been  5,  5,  5, 
instead  of  5,  5,  3,  which  would  have  put  all  nations 
on  an  equality  and  would  have  made  offensive  warfare 
impossible.  As  it  is,  Japan  cannot  possibly  attack 
America,  but  America  can  attack  Japan.  America’s 
right  according  to  the  Washington  treaties  to  develop 
the  naval  base  and  the  land  fortifications  at  Hawaii 
constitutes,  they  assert,  a  menace  to  Japan  for  which 
there  is  for  Japan  no  compensating  right.  Moreover, 
Japan’s  concessions  to  America  regarding  Guam,  Yap, 
and  the  mandated  islands,  secured  no  corresponding 
concessions  to  Japan.  These  criticisms  in  Japan  are 
particularly  interesting  in  the  light  of  corresponding 
criticisms  in  America  that  America  suffered  diplomatic 
defeat  and  that  Japan  secured  the  principal  benefits  of 
the  Conference.  In  this  connection  one  is  moved  to 
ask  why  it  is  now  necessary  to  increase  the  Hawaiian 
naval  base,  and  why  it  is  necessary  to  keep  fifteen  thou¬ 
sand  American  boys  under  arms  in  these  islands. 


122  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


The  Anti-Japanese  Agitation  in  America 

The  continued  anti-Japanese  agitation  and  legisla¬ 
tion  on  the  Pacific  Coast  is  also  a  distinct  disappoint¬ 
ment  in  Japan.  Her  leaders  felt  that  they  had  done 
everything  possible  at  the  Washington  Conference, 
conceding  everything  that  America  asked,  in  order  to 
show  how  sincerely  Japan  desires  to  be  on  friendly 
relations  with  America.  They  hoped  that  a  correspond¬ 
ing  attitude  of  goodwill  would  be  developed  in  Amer¬ 
ica  toward  Japan,  and  that  a  spirit  of  fair  and  equal 
treatment  of  Japanese  in  America  would  arise.  Many 
are  asking  how  long  the  anti- Japanese  agitation  is  going 
to  continue  and  to  how  much  further  humiliation  Japan 
is  to  be  subjected — for  every  discriminatory  anti-Jap¬ 
anese  law  is  regarded  as  humiliating.  Certain  Cali¬ 
fornians  and  Congressmen  are  even  seriously  proposing 
to  pass  a  law  abrogating  without  conference  or  con¬ 
sultation  the  Gentlemen’s  Agreement,  by  which  since 
1908  all  Japanese  male  labor  immigration  has  prac¬ 
tically  ceased.  The  coming  of  “picture  brides”  to 
continental  America  was  voluntarily  stopped  in  1920. 
Leading  Japanese  declare  that  Japan  is  not  asking  for 
privileges  of  immigration  and  will  consider  any  prop¬ 
osition,  reasonable  and  honorable,  made  by  the  Ameri¬ 
can  Government  for  changes  in  the  Agreement.  Some 
adjustment  can  surely  be  found  that  will  be  mutually 
satisfactory.  They  ask  to  be  treated  as  gentlemen. 
Ex-parte  legislation  abolishing  the  Agreement  and  sub¬ 
stituting  a  flat,  discriminatory  exclusion  law,  could  not 
fail  to  produce  a  deep  feeling  of  pain  and  resentment. 
The  writer  is  more  than  ever  convinced  by  his  recent 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  JAPAN  123 


experiences  that  all  real  difficulties  in  the  present  situa¬ 
tion  can  be  adjusted  by  friendly  conference,  and  that 
drastic,  humiliating  legislation  would  be  a  wanton  and 
utterly  unpardonable  affront  to  a  high-spirited  people 
that  really  desire  to  live  on  terms  of  good  neighborli¬ 
ness  with  America. 

Equality  of  Race  Treatment 

It  should  be  clearly  understood  in  America  that 
Japan  is  not  asking  for  opportunities  for  her  people 
of  immigration  to  America.  That  which  she  asks  and 
asks  earnestly  is  that  Japanese  in  America  may  be  given 
the  same  civil  rights  and  opportunities  for  labor  that 
are  given  to  foreigners  of  any  other  land  and  race. 
“Equality  of  race  treatment”  is  the  principle  for  which 
she  irrevocably  stands.  Surely  this  is  a  principle  for 
which  the  Churches  of  America  and  true  Christians 
everywhere  also  stand.  Our  Federal  Constitution  itself 
requires  it  in  the  clause  providing  for  the  “equal 
protection  of  the  law”  which  the  Supreme  Court  de¬ 
clares  to  mean  “the  protection  of  equal  law.” 

Japan  and  the  League  of  Nations 

Japan  is  a  member  of  the  League  of  Nations.  The 
Japanese  League  of  Nations  Association  is  doing  much 
to  help  the  people  know  and  understand  what  it  is 
and  what  it  is  doing.  But  the  leaders  freely  state  that 
not  much  can  be  expected  of  the  League  until  America 
joins.  No  question  in  the  writer’s  private  conferences 
and  no  point  in  his  public  addresses  secured  more  in¬ 
terested  attention  than  whether  or  not  and  how  soon 
America  was  likely  to  join  the  League.  The  antagonism 


124.  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


of  Senators  Borah  and  LaFollette  and  Johnson  is  well 
known  to  Japanese  leaders. 

Japan's  Policies  in  China 

Considerable  effort  was  made  to  learn  the  real  atti¬ 
tude  of  Japan  toward  China.  While  the  writer  was  in 
China  the  usual  questions  put  to  him  were  how  far 
are  the  new  Japanese  policies  in  China  rooted  in  the 
mind  and  purpose  of  the  people?  Are  they  likely  to 
last?  or  will  they  break  down  as  soon  as  the  present 
Cabinet  is  overthrown  ?  Several  pages  would  be  need¬ 
ful  for  an  adequate  statement  of  his  information  on 
these  points.  All  his  informants  in  Japan  agreed — 
conservatives  and  liberals,  the  ins  and  outs,  professors, 
students  and  laborers — that  Japan  is  through  with  an 
aggressive,  imperialistic  and  militaristic  policy  in  China ; 
that  it  does  not  pay;  that  it  cannot  be  carried  through 
to  success ;  that  Japan  must  cultivate  China’s  friendship. 
The  mistakes  of  the  policies  embodied  in  the  “Twenty- 
One  Demands”  are  now  widely  recognized  and  con¬ 
demned.  But  thoughtful  men  insist  that  the  faults 
for  the  bad  relations  of  the  past  are  not  wholly  to  be 
laid  on  Japan;  that  China  herself  has  been  and  still 
is  in  part  to  blame,  and  that  the  western  nations  also 
are  partly  responsible  for  China’s  present  predicament. 

Many  leading  Japanese  sympathize  with  China’s 
“Humiliation  Day”  feelings  and  would  like  to  set  mat¬ 
ters  right  at  once  but  no  one  knows  how  to  do  it.  The 
return  to  China  forthwith  of  the  Liaotung  Peninsula 
and  the  cancellation  of  the  remaining  “Demands”  might 
even  make  the  present  situation  and  the  future  outlook 
worse.  Until  it  is  known  what  Russia  is  going  to  be 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  JAPAN  125 


and  to  do  in  the  Far  East,  and  what  her  attitudes  and 
policies  are  to  be  toward  both  Japan  and  China,  ac¬ 
cording  to  Japanese  thought,  it  would  be  a  mistake 
and  a  danger  for  China  as  well  as  for  Japan  for  Japan 
to  withdraw  from  South  Manchuria.  Practically  all 
the  foreigners  also  hold  this  view.  Many  Japanese 
leaders  desire  to  do  the  right  and  neighborly  thing  by 
China,  but  the  way  is  not  clear. 

An  interesting  evidence  of  this  desire  on  the  part 
of  the  Government  is  the  plan  now  being  worked  out 
to  utilize  the  entire  remaining  amount  due  Japan  on 
the  Boxer  Indemnity  for  a  permanent  fund  for  cultural 
and  philanthropic  institutions  in  China  for  Chinese. 
To  this  fund  is  to  be  added  the  entire  amount  to  be 
paid  by  China  for  the  Shantung  Railway  and  for  other 
properties  in  Shantung  returned  by  Japan.  Of  this 
sum  three  hundred  thousand  yen  ($150,000)  annually 
is  to  be  devoted  to  the  support  of  Chinese  students  in 
Japan.  On  account  of  the  bankruptcy  of  the  Chinese 
Government  many  Chinese  students  in  Japan  have  been 
in  dire  distress.  Even  the  Chinese  Minister  in  Tokyo 
sought  to  get  aid  from  this  fund  for  his  Legation. 
This  could  not  be  granted  by  reason  of  the  specified 
purposes  of  the  fund,  but  loans  were  otherwise  pro¬ 
vided  pending  the  ability  of  the  Peking  Government 
to  finance  its  foreign  Legations. 

Japans  Policies  in  Korea 

The  attitude  of  the  Japanese  toward  Korea  was  also 
sounded.  The  progressive  and  friendly  policies  of  the 
Government-General  in  Korea  are  heartily  endorsed  in 
Japan.  Thoughtful  Japanese  are  looking  forward  to 


126  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


the  complete  fusion  of  the  two  people.  Regarding  the 
ultimate  form  of  government,  whether  autonomous  or 
controlled  from  Tokyo,  not  many  are  thinking.  That 
question  they  are  leaving  for  the  future.  A  few,  how¬ 
ever,  see  that  the  unification  of  the  two  peoples  is  a 
far  more  difficult  undertaking  than  most  realize.  This 
governmental  program  is  the  source  of  grave  misgiv¬ 
ings.  A  few  exceptional  thinkers  see  and  are  saying 
that  Korea  should  be  given  autonomy  just  as  rapidly 
as  efficient  Korean  administrators  can  be  raised  up; 
that,  other  things  being  equal,  administrative  posts  in 
Korea  should  be  given  to  Koreans  rather  than  to  Jap¬ 
anese,  and  that  ultimately  perhaps  Korea  should  be 
given  even  complete  independence. 

The  Problem  of  Population  and  Food 

The  problem  of  population  and  food  is  one  on  which 
all  are  thinking.  The  Government  is  making  efforts  to 
increase  production  and  to  bring  increasing  amounts 
of  land  under  cultivation,  for  there  is  still  some  culti- 
vatable  land  not  yet  utilized.  Its  amount,  however, 
has  been  grossly  exaggerated  by  certain  recent  writers 
in  America  who  seem  to  have  a  “grouch”  against 
Japan.  It  is  now  pretty  well  known  that  Japanese 
laborers  cannot  compete  with  either  Chinese  or  Koreans 
of  the  same  class.  Manchuria,  Formosa  and  Korea 
would  seem  to  afford  an  outlet  for  Japan’s  working 
classes,  but  they  are  not  going  to  these  lands  in  any 
noticeable  numbers  because  climatic  conditions  are  un¬ 
favorable  and  the  native  populations  can  out-work 
them.  The  same  is  true  of  Siberia.  The  outlook  is 
indeed  depressing.  But  it  has  been  noted  that  Japan’s 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  JAPAN  127 


birthrate  is  beginning  to  fall.  Mrs.  Sanger’s  thesis  on 
“birth  control”  is  thoroughly  known  throughout  Japan, 
though  her  lectures  were  forbidden.  As  compared 
with  China  and  Korea,  Japan  appears  very  prosperous; 
the  people  are  well  fed  and  well  clothed  and  well  housed. 
The  standards  of  living  have  been  advancing  wonder¬ 
fully.  Labor  is  relatively  better  paid  than  any  other 
class  in  Japan.  Industrial  workers  and  day  laborers 
are  going  to  the  movies  and  securing  many  new  forms 
of  pleasure  and  recreation.  What  Japan  needs  more 
than  openings  for  emigration  is  an  open  door  for  her 
trade,  a  door  not  closed  against  her  by  tariff  walls. 
Japan  is  certain  to  become  an  industrial  nation  and  a 
sea-going  people.  This  seems  the  solution  for  her 
food  and  population  problem,  for  her  labor  classes 
will  not  go  where  they  may,  and  cannot  go  where 
they  desire. 


The  “ Water  Level  Society ” 

An  interesting  social  phenomenon  is  the  recent 
aggressive  attitude  of  the  former  “outcast  class,”  the 
“Eta”  or  “Shinheimin,”  demanding  equal  treatment. 
Fifty  years  ago  they  were  elevated  to  full  civilian 
rights  at  the  same  time  that  the  Samurai  were  deprived 
of  their  special  rank  and  their  swords.  The  Shin¬ 
heimin  are  now  claiming,  however,  that  the  classes 
in  power  constantly  discriminate  against  them  and 
humiliate  them;  that  their  sons  do  not  have  the  same 
rights  and  opportunity  for  promotion  as  are  given  to 
others.  They  have  accordingly  organized  the  “Water 
Level  Society,”  an  aggressive,  belligerent  body  that  is 
causing  the  police  and  neighbors  considerable  trouble. 


128  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


Insults,  fancied  and  real,  are  at  once  redressed  by  force. 
Several  riots  have  taken  place.  No  one  knows  what  to 
do  or  how  the  trouble  can  be  really  solved  for  the  social 
customs  and  personal  habits  of  the  class  are  so  dif¬ 
ferent  from  those  of  the  average  Japanese  that  social 
intercourse  is  exceedingly  difficult. 

Prohibition 

Widespread  interest  exists  in  America’s  prohibition 
program.  Many  questions  were  asked  regarding  the 
success  of  prohibition  in  America,  and  especially  as 
to  bootlegging.  Temperance  leaders  are  saying  that  its 
success  in  the  United  States  will  ultimately  make  pro¬ 
hibition  both  possible  and  necessary  in  Japan.  Her 
temperance  movement  is  making  real  headway.  This 
is  clear  if  present-day  conditions  are  compared  with 
those  of  twenty,  or  even  ten  years  ago.  Social  drink¬ 
ing  is  no  longer  an  imperious  custom.  At  many  ban¬ 
quets,  it  was  said,  more  liquor  is  thrown  away  than  is 
drunk,  after  the  ceremony  of  filling  each  other’s  cups. 
The  national  drink  bill,  though  increasing  as  a  whole, 
is  diminishing  per  capita. 

Naval  and  Military  Reductions 

One  notable  day  was  spent  at  Yokosuka,  one  of  the 
principal  government  navy  yards,  accompanied  by  Mr. 
Bowles,  of  the  Friends’  Mission,  already  mentioned  in 
these  pages  as  the  “Father  of  the  Peace  Movement  in 
Japan.”  On  arrival,  we  were  informed  that  the  Navy 
Department  in  Tokyo  had  sent  down  word  that  we  were 
to  be  shown  everything  we  might  ask  to  see.  For 
six  hours  we  were  guided  back  and  forth,  up  and 


SIGNIFICANT  MOVEMENTS  IN  JAPAN  129 


down,  and  in  and  out  of  the  various  buildings,  docks 
and  vessels.  We  saw  the  A  magi,  the  uncompleted  bat¬ 
tle  cruiser,  in  process  of  transformation  into  a  sea¬ 
plane  carrier.  We  saw  half  a  dozen  battleships  and 
cruisers  doomed  for  destruction,  only  awaiting  the 
ratification  of  the  Washington  Treaties  by  France. 
Especially  impressive  was  the  uncompleted  battleship 
Kaga,  having  heavy  plank  sides  in  place  of  the  pro¬ 
tective  armor,  to  make  it  possible  to  tow  her  two  hun¬ 
dred  and  fifty  miles  in  the  open  sea  from  Kobe  where 
she  was  nearing  completion  when  the  Washington  Con¬ 
ference  suddenly  doomed  her. 

Perhaps  most  impressive  of  all  was  our  conversation 
with  Adjutant  Nakamura  regarding  the  results  of  the 
Washington  Conference  and  the  satisfaction  of  Japan’s 
naval  forces  that  the  world  was  facing  toward  world 
peace  rather  than  world  war.  The  charges  of  certain 
American  writers,  that  Japan  was  violating  the  spirit 
and  probably  also  the  letter  of  the  Washington  Treaties, 
were  discussed.  Adjutant  Nakamura  declared  that 
in  his  opinion  military  and  naval  secrets  should  be 
abolished ;  that  each  country  should  welcome  the  visits 
of  military  and  naval  experts  of  other  lands  and  help 
them  to  see  anything  and  everything  they  might  wish. 
This,  he  said,  would  effectively  overcome  international 
suspicion — the  most  powerful  single  cause  of  competi¬ 
tive  naval  and  military  programs. 

Since  the  Washington  Conference  the  number  of 
laborers  employed  in  the  Government  dockyards  has 
been  decreased  by  twenty-five  thousand,  but  gradually, 
out  of  consideration  for  the  needs  of  the  workers  and 
because  of  the  general  industrial  situation.  At  the 


130  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


same  time  the  naval  forces  have  been  reduced  by  fifteen 
thousand  men  and  the  army  by  some  fifty  thousand  men 
and  twelve  thousand  officers.  The  combined  military 
and  naval  budget  for  1923  is  less  than  that  for  1922  by 
fifty-eight  million  dollars  (gold),  while  the  national 
budget  for  primary  education  has  been  increased  by 
fifteen  million  dollars  (gold). 

The  significance  of  these  facts  surely  needs  no  elabo¬ 
ration  here.  American  Church  leaders  should  find 
ways  to  get  them  effectively  into  the  public  mind  so  as 
to  banish  the  favorite  bogy  of  the  sensational  press — a 
monstrous  and  sinister  Japanese  menace. 

Anxiety  Over  America's  Military  and  Naval  Program 

Throughout  Japan  leaders  are  asking  the  meaning  of 
America’s  expanding  programs  for  military  and  naval 
efficiency.  Has  America  become  militaristic  in  spirit? 
If  not,  how  are  her  plans  to  be  explained  for  heavy 
expenditures  on  old  and  new  naval  bases  on  the  Pacific 
Coast  and  in  Hawaii  ?  What  is  the  need  of  still  further 
enlarging  Pearl  Harbor?  Why  are  fifteen  thousand 
American  troops  maintained  in  Hawaii?  What  is  the 
significance  of  recent  developments  in  Officers’  Train¬ 
ing  Camps  in  all  parts  of  America,  and  of  the  wide 
introduction  of  military  training  in  colleges  and  high 
schools  ?  Every  such  step  is  keenly  noted  by  Japanese 
army  and  navy  men,  and  widely  reported  in  the  press 
in  support  of  their  contention  that  Japan  must  be  “pre¬ 
pared.”  While  the  Japanese  are  increasingly  anti¬ 
militaristic,  America  appears  to  many  of  them  increas¬ 
ingly  militaristic. 


Chapter  IX 

FINAL  IMPRESSIONS  AND  CONVICTIONS 


THE  writer  desires  in  conclusion  to  record  with 
all  possible  emphasis  certain  general  impressions 
and  convictions  that  have  resulted  from  his  extended 
visit  to  the  Churches  and  peoples  of  the  Far  East. 

The  Federal  Council’s  Message  of  fellowship  and 
goodwill  was  eagerly  welcomed  everywhere.  The 
leaders  of  the  Far-Eastern  Churches  appreciated  the 
Federal  Council’s  recognition  of  them  as  among  the 
sister  Churches  of  the  world,  and  welcomed  the  invi¬ 
tation  to  take  part  in  dealing  with  one  of  the  world’s 
greatest  problems,  the  abolition  of  war. 

In  both  China  and  Japan,  the  Churches  are  rapidly 
developing  corporate  self-consciousness.  The  Chinese 
National  Christian  Conference  of  1922  marked  a  turn¬ 
ing  point  in  the  Christian  Movement  of  China.  Many 
are  saying  that  the  Church  of  China  has  “come  of  age” 
and  is  beginning  to  take  control  of  her  own  develop¬ 
ment  and  destiny.  Chinese  will  more  and  more  be 
the  leaders,  and  missionaries  will  increasingly  be  asso¬ 
ciates  and  colleagues. 

While  the  Churches  of  Japan  are  further  advanced 
in  certain  lines  of  development,  the  Churches  of  China 
are  distinctly  ahead  in  their  cooperative  movement  and 
in  their  unified  self-consciousness.  To  speak  of  the 

131 


132  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


“Church  of  China”  seems  to  be  more  appropriate  than 
to  speak  of  the  “Church  of  Japan.”  Although  the 
Churches  of  Japan  possess  a  “Church  Federation,”  this 
organization  is  not  particularly  active;  it  hardly  ex¬ 
presses  as  yet  a  unified  self-consciousness. 

On  account  of  the  rapidly  growing  Christian  con¬ 
stituencies  in  China  and  Japan,  led  by  men  of  marked 
ability  and  consecration,  together  with  developing  na¬ 
tional  self-consciousness  and  sensitiveness,  the  Mission 
Boards  in  America  will  need  to  give  increasing  atten¬ 
tion  to  the  quality  of  the  missionaries  sent  to  these 
lands.  Questions  of  quality  will  be  of  more  impor¬ 
tance  than  those  of  quantity.  The  function  of  the  mis¬ 
sionary  is  changing.  His  pioneering  stage  has  largely 
passed.  “The  demand  for  western  preachers  is  de¬ 
creasing.”  “Western  Christians  will  work  more  and 
more  behind  the  scenes.”  “We  want  men  and  women 
who  will  be  willing  to  learn  some  things  from  us  and 
who  will  try  to  understand  our  civilization.”  The  mis¬ 
sionaries’  work  henceforth  will  increasingly  be  to  help 
to  educate,  to  inspire,  and  to  cooperate  in  many  forms 
of  activity.  “Future  missionaries  must  be  specialists.” 

The  writer’s  personal  contacts  with  scores  of  mis¬ 
sionaries  in  each  of  the  countries  visited  produced 
growing  admiration  for  their  character  and  consecra¬ 
tion,  their  remarkable  ability  in  grappling  with  their 
problems,  their  real  understanding  of  the  rapidly 
changing  situation  and  their  readiness  and  desire  to 
adapt  themselves  to  the  new  conditions.  Especially 
impressive  was  the  insight  and  understanding  evinced 
by  the  younger  missionaries,  who  have  been  on  the 
field  but  a  single  term  or  at  most  two  terms.  The 


FINAL  IMPRESSIONS  AND  CONVICTIONS  133 


Mission  Boards  and  also  the  mission  fields  are  to  be 
congratulated  on  the  high  quality  of  the  manhood  and 
womenhood  going  out  to  the  Far  East  for  Christian 
service. 

The  writer  was  impressed  anew  by  the  deplorable 
losses  through  sectarianism  and  the  enormous  advan¬ 
tages  of  a  united  front.  It  is  no  doubt  a  utopian  ideal, 
but  the  true  way  to  present  the  Christian  Message  in 
the  Far  East  would  be  for  all  the  Mission  Boards  in 
America  so  to  combine  their  work  that  all  missionaries 
would  go  and  be  known  merely  as  missionaries  of  the 
Protestant  Churches  of  America.  A  united  front  is 
imperative  for  full  and  final  success.  Even  without 
the  addition  of  a  single  man  to  the  forces  or  of  a  single 
dollar  to  the  budgets,  the  advantages  of  a  unified  front 
and  of  universal  cooperation  would  be  well-nigh 
incalculable. 

The  Churches  in  China  and  Japan  are  entering  a 
period  of  strenuous  struggle  with  non-Christian  relig¬ 
ious  and  anti-religious  movements,  both  indigenous  and 
imported.  The  very  successes  of  the  Christian  move¬ 
ment  are  calling  forth  the  antagonisms  of  many  who 
have  hitherto  been  indifferent,  who  have  thought  Chris¬ 
tianity  might  be  ignored  without  danger  to  their  estab¬ 
lished  faiths  and  vested  interests.  They  begin  to  be 
aroused  and  even  alarmed.  In  this  struggle  it  is  the 
native  Christian  leaders,  not  the  missionaries  from 
the  West,  who  must  meet  the  attacks  and  carry  the 
brunt  of  the  conflict.  Yet  the  missionary  has  his  part 
to  play.  The  Churches  of  the  Fart  East  cannot  win 
under  missionary  leadership.  Yet  neither  can  they  win 


184  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


without  strong  sympathy  and  support  from  the 
Churches  of  the  West. 

The  peoples  of  the  Far  East  realize  deeply  that  they 
have  received  much,  very  much  from  America;  that 
somehow  America  is  to  them  what  no  other  nation  has 
been  or  is  likely  to  be.  “Government  of  the  people, 
by  the  people  and  for  the  people”  is  an  ideal  that  has 
gripped  the  leaders  in  those  lands.  They  know  whence 
that  ideal  has  come.  The  typical  oriental  autocrat  or 
despot  is  no  longer  possible.  Oriental  government  is 
rapidly  taking  on  the  ideals  and  the  methods  of  the 
Occident.  The  “unchanging  East”  is  a  myth.  The 
East  and  the  West  are  fast  growing  together. 

The  expectant  attitude  of  Far-Eastern  peoples  toward 
America  is  at  once  gratifying  and  pathetic,  and  also 
humiliating.  They  have  elevated  America  to  so  high 
a  place  in  their  thinking  that  they  have  expected  of  us 
deeds  that  are  hardly  possible.  Japan  has  been  passing 
through  a  bitter  experience  of  disappointment;  but 
America’s  prompt  response  to  her  need  will  do  much 
to  restore  the  friendly  relation.  The  Philippines  are 
beginning  to  wonder  if  we  will  really  make  good  on 
our  promises.  Korea  and  China,  though  somewhat 
disappointed,  still  expect  much.  But  even  in  their  dis¬ 
appointments  they  all  feel  that  their  destinies  are  inti¬ 
mately  dependent  on  what  America  thinks  and  does, 
or  fails  to  think  and  to  do,  about  the  Far  East. 

America’s  opportunity  for  service  in  the  Far  East  is 
unparalleled.  If  she  will  put  in  the  forefront  of  her 
Far-Eastern  policy  the  consistent  practice  of  the  prin¬ 
ciples  of  justice,  equality,  brotherhood,  appreciation 
and  thoroughgoing  goodwill,  the  beneficent  results  in 


FINAL  IMPRESSIONS  AND  CONVICTIONS  135 


these  lands  will  be  beyond  calculation.  This  is  a  case 
in  which,  if  America  as  a  nation  seeks  first  of  all  the 
Kingdom  of  God  and  His  righteousness,  all  other  things 
will  be  added. 

What  is  called  for  is  not  the  calculating  short-sighted 
policy  of  trade  seeking  immediate  profit,  but  the  Chris¬ 
tian  policy  of  uncalculating,  self-sacrificing  service.  We 
should  enter  at  once  and  boldly  upon  large,  long- 
visioned  plans  of  constructive  helpfulness,  conceived  in 
goodwill  and  carried  out  with  invinceable  patience  and 
courage.  We  of  America  should  realize  that  the  vast 
wealth  of  our  land  is  a  trust  for  us  to  develop  and  to 
use  for  the  good  of  the  world.  If  we  think  it  is  ours 
to  use  in  a  selfish  way,  regardless  of  the  needs  of  other 
lands,  in  the  end  we  ourselves  will  be  the  chief  suf¬ 
ferers.  God  has  entrusted  to  America  untold  wealth; 
and  now  he  has  given  us  unparalleled  opportunities. 
The  testing  time  for  our  people  is  upon  us.  Whether 
or  not  America  makes  good  depends  largely  on  the 
Churches — on  their  alertness,  on  their  fidelity  to  their 
Lord,  on  their  determination  to  carry  out  His  Ideals, 
His  Spirit,  His  Will  and  His  Program. 

No  deeper  impression  was  made  on  the  writer  than 

% 

that  of  a  mighty  miracle  in  the  making.  In  the  churches 
visited,  in  many  of  which  he  could  not  understand  a 
single  word,  he  nevertheless  was  conscious  of  the  feel¬ 
ing  of  brotherhood  that  prevailed  in  the  relations  of 
Orientals  and  Occidentals.  Here  he  saw  men  and 
women  of  different  races  who  really  believe  and  trust 
and  love  one  another.  Chinese  and  Japanese  and 
Koreans — millions  of  them — really  believe  that  there 
are  good  and  trustworthy  white  men.  And  the  feeling 


136  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


and  belief  are  reciprocated.  This  was  not  true  fifty 
years  ago.  Here  is  a  beginning  of  the  reconciliation 
of  the  races,  a  solution  of  the  greatest  and  most  diffi¬ 
cult  of  all  the  problems  facing  the  human  race.  And 
this  reconciliation  is  not  superficial.  It  extends  to  the 
innermost  elements  of  their  lives,  to  their  religious 
beliefs  and  intellectual  understandings  of  God  and 
man  and  nature.  There  in  those  churches  were  great 
congregations  devoutly  studying  the  Bible  which  we 
revere,  praying  to  the  Heavenly  Father  to  whom  we 
pray,  and  singing  the  great  hymns  of  the  faith,  loved 
in  all  lands. 

In  contrast  to  this  marvelous  miracle  is  the  amazing 
ignorance  of  it  on  the  part  of  so  many  of  our  “wise” 
and  “learned”  who  visit  those  lands.  They  are  inter¬ 
ested  in  the  scenery,  in  the  landmarks  and  ruins,  in 
ancient  histories,  in  art,  architecture,  and  sometimes 
in  the  literary  and  cultural  achievements  of  those  coun¬ 
tries.  But  they  are  blind  to  the  creative  forces  that  are 
regenerating  those  nations.  They  too  often  credulously 
accept  silly  stories  heard  at  hotels  and  on  steamers. 
They  talk  with  no  missionary  or  native  pastor;  they 
attend  no  Christian  service  and  visit  no  Christian  school 
or  college.  These  important  movements  and  institu¬ 
tions  do  not  interest  them.  And,  on  the  other  hand, 
the  influences  exerted  by  not  a  few  of  these  men  of 
“light  and  learning”  upon  the  youth  of  the  Orient  who 
are  turning  to  the  West  for  guidance  and  inspiration, 
are  too  often  negative  and  even  destructive. 

The  rapid  survey  of  the  Far  East,  made  in  a  some¬ 
what  intimate  way,  deeply  impressed  the  writer  with 
the  intrinsic  ability  of  the  people  and  their  leaders. 


FINAL  IMPRESSIONS  AND  CONVICTIONS  137 


For  more  than  forty  years  he  has  been  a  student  of 
these  lands.  He  had  already  come  to  have  a  high  appre¬ 
ciation  of  the  essential  civilization  of  Japan  and  the 
genuine  achievements  of  her  versatile  people  along 
many  lines.  He  was  not  entirely  ignorant  of  Korea 
or  China,  nor  of  the  achievements  of  their  ancient  civili¬ 
zations.  But  he  found  himself  developing  a  deep  re¬ 
spect  and  even  admiration  for  the  men  of  today,  so 
virile  and  forward-looking;  so  serious  and  earnest,  so 
splendidly  educated  and  so  devoted  to  the  higher  and 
deeper  interests  of  life,  and  yet  clinging  with  earnest 
love  to  the  best  of  their  ancient  achievements.  He 
does  not  wonder  at  the  self-respect  and  pride  with 
which  each  of  these  peoples  remembers  its  past,  nor  at 
the  confidence  with  which  each  is  moving  forward  into 
the  unknown  future.  He  would  fain  convey  these 
impressions,  that  have  become  convictions,  to  our  peo¬ 
ple  of  the  West.  We  must  rid  our  Occidental  nations 
of  our  essential  provincialism,  of  our  false  notions  of 
race  superiority  and  of  our  snobbish  attitude  of  arro¬ 
gance  toward  these  mighty,  cultured  and  courteous 
peoples  of  the  Far  East.  Though  we  have  certain  con¬ 
tributions  to  make  to  them,  there  are  important  re¬ 
spects  in  which  we  need  to  learn  from  them. 

A  fact  at  once  inspiring  and  depressing  is  the  amaz¬ 
ing  demand  of  the  youth  of  the  Far  East  for  Occidental 
education.  Compulsory  education  in  Japan  for  a  gen¬ 
eration  and  more  has  produced  a  literate  nation.  Tens 
of  thousands  are  now  annually  applying  in  vain  for 
higher  education.  In  Korea,  the  Philippines  and  China, 
without  a  compulsory  law,  school  accommodation  is 
wholly  insufficient.  A  new  ferment  is  working  in  all 


138  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


Far-Eastern  lands.  Not  education  merely  for  the  sake 
of  education,  but  education  because  it  is  believed  to  be 
the  door  to  national  salvation.  Along  with  it,  accord¬ 
ingly,  flows  a  rising  tide  of  nationalism,  a  growing 
consciousness  of  wrongs  endured  and  of  weakness,  but 
also  a  determination  that  weakness  shall  give  place  to 
power,  that  wrongs  shall  be  righted  and  that  respect 
shall  be  paid  by  every  foreign  nation.  There  is  indeed 
a  rising  tide  of  “color-consciousness'’  and  color  resent¬ 
ment  as  against  the  snobbishness  of  Caucasian  and  even 
Nordic  pride  and  arrogance.  The  educational  enthu¬ 
siasm  of  young  Asia  means  a  new  Asia.  Asia  has  had 
bitter  lessons  in  learning  that  she  cannot  despise  or 
ignore  the  West.  Must  the  West  go  through  bitter 
experiences  in  learning  that  she  cannot  despise  and 
exploit  the  East?  As  Asia  has  been  forced  to  learn 
that  she  must  adjust  her  ancient  life  to  the  modern 
world,  in  which  the  West  is  at  present  the  dominating 
factor,  so  the  West  will  have  to  learn  to  adjust  her 
life  to  the  developing  new  world  of  the  decades  ahead 
in  which  Asia  and  Asiatics  are  to  be  vital,  determined 
and  forceful  factors. 

As  he  talked  with  Chinese,  Japanese  and  Korean 
leaders,  the  writer  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  essen¬ 
tial  “reasonableness”  of  the  Asiatic.  Far  more  than 
the  Occidental  does  the  average  Far-Easterner  believe 
in  reason,  in  discussion  and  in  the  settlement  of  diffi¬ 
culties  by  conference  and  compromise,  rather  than  by 
the  fist — mailed  or  unmailed.  It  is  the  Westerner  who 
tends  to  be  impatient  with  discussion,  to  issue  ulti¬ 
matums,  and  to  cut  Gordian  knots  by  the  sword.  Pro¬ 
posals  for  a  League  of  Nations  and  for  a  Permanent 


FINAL  IMPRESSIONS  AND  CONVICTIONS  139 


Court  of  International  Justice  meet  with  prompt  en¬ 
dorsement  in  East  Asia.  Chinese  pacificism  is  rooted 
fundamentally  in  his  belief  in  right  and  reason  as  ulti¬ 
mately  superior  to  any  form  of  brute  force.  Japan’s 
militarism  was  her  response  to  the  militarism  of  the 
West,  which  put  the  mailed  fist  above  justice,  reason 
and  humanity.  If  the  West  insists  on  the  appeal  to 
Mars  in  settling  her  relations  with  the  Far  East,  by 
Mars  shall  she  ultimately  be  judged.  The  Far  East 
wants  of  the  West  justice,  fair  opportunity,  and  the 
practice  of  truth  and  humanity. 

The  Christian  program  for  a  Warless  World  is 
eagerly  though  somewhat  quizzically  listened  to  by  the 
wide-awake  peoples  of  the  Far  East.  Is  it  possible, 
many  are  saying,  that  the  Churches  of  the  West  really 
mean  to  set  right  and  law  and  justice  above  mere  might  ? 
Is  the  spirit  of  Christ  really  to  subdue  and  displace 
the  power  of  Caesar?  Is  the  Cross  going  to  cast  out 
the  sword?  In  proportion  as  this  takes  place,  in  pro¬ 
portion  as  white  men  and  races  practice  the  principles 
and  spirit  of  Jesus  in  their  national  life  and  their  in¬ 
ternational  relations,  will  the  religion  of  Jesus  become 
popular  in  the  Far  East.  The  greatest  obstacle  to  the 
success  of  foreign  missions  is  the  un-Christian  conduct 
of  so-called  Christian  men  and  nations.  No  single  con¬ 
tribution  to  the  final  victory  of  the  Christian  Gospel  in 
the  Far  East  will  compare  with  the  achievement  of  a 
Warless  World  by  the  Christian  forces  in  Christen¬ 
dom.  The  writer  believes  that  each  Church,  Sun¬ 
day  School,  Theological  Seminary,  Foreign  Mission 
Board,  and  every  other  Christian  organization  should 
make  the  Christian  program  for  a  world  filled  with 


140  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


righteousness  and  peace  an  integral  part  of  its  regular 
educational  activity.  But  if  this  is  really  to  take  place, 
our  Christian  leaders  will  have  to  take  far  more  seri¬ 
ously  to  heart  than  in  the  past  the  problems  of  inter¬ 
national  life  and  the  necessity  of  controlling  politics  and 
politicians  by  Christian  principles  and  Christian  voters. 

America,  Japan  and  China  are  the  principal  neighbor 
nations  of  the  north  Pacific.  Shall  they  be  friendly 
neighbors,  harmoniously  working  together  for  their 
common  good  and  for  the  peace  of  the  world?  That 
depends  more  upon  America  today  than  upon  either 
of  the  others.  We  can  have  them  for  friends  if  we 
will.  If  we  fail  in  winning  their  permanent  confidence 
and  goodwill,  none  can  foretell  the  result.  Developing 
military  and  naval  preparation  will  go  on  here  and 
there,  with  ill-will,  suspicion,  ugly  words  and  ugly 
deeds,  until  a  great  catastrophe  overwhelms  us  all.  The 
wages  of  sin  is  death,  for  nations  no  less  than  for 
individuals. 

For  the  maintenance  of  international  understanding 
and  goodwill,  no  factor  is  probably  more  important 
than  that  of  accurate  international  news,  conveyed  by 
a  press  whose  primary  interest  is  honesty  rather  than 
profit.  Sensation-loving  writers  on  international  re¬ 
lations  create  mutual  suspicions  and  ill-will.  We  must 
remember  that  there  are  hundreds  of  young,  aspiring 
journalists  who  must  make  their  living  by  the  interest¬ 
ing  material  they  can  write.  They  have  little  special 
education  or  qualifications  for  their  responsible  calling. 
Their  chief  capital  is  a  lively  imagination,  slight  in¬ 
formation,  active  suspicion,  a  facile  pen  and  an  ignorant 
public  keen  for  sensations.  What  they  write  are 


FINAL  IMPRESSIONS  AND  CONVICTIONS  141 


“stories,”  not  “news.”  The  alleged  discovery  of  a 
secret,  sinister  menace  of  another  nation  or  race  is 
their  most  profitable  “dope”  for  the  innocent  and  easily 
misled  public.  In  our  Christian  program  for  a  Warless 
World,  few  problems  are  more  pressing  than  the  dis¬ 
covery  of  means  by  which  to  free  our  press  and  our 
people  from  the  snares  and  international  prejudices, 
suspicions  and  ill-will,  generated  by  irresponsible 
writers.  International  slander  is  a  grievous  sin,  tre¬ 
mendously  damaging  to  both  parties.  Some  means 
must  speedily  be  found  to  keep  the  Churches  ade¬ 
quately  and  accurately  informed  on  international  mat¬ 
ters  and  at  the  same  time  to  bring  to  book  those  who 
write  and  those  who  publish  streams  of  international 
falsehood. 

The  immediate  task  required  of  America  if  she  would 
be  truly  friendly  to  China  and  Japan  is  to  repeal  such 
of  our  laws  as  are  humiliating  to  them,  and  to  insist 
with  our  legislators,  state  and  national,  that  inter¬ 
national  treaties  are  to  be  observed  in  both  the  spirit 
and  the  letter.  This  is  not  a  demand  for  Asiatic  immi¬ 
gration.  It  is  a  plea  for  honest  observance  of  sacred 
treaty  obligations.  Treaties  can  be  changed  by  con¬ 
ference.  Their  ex-parte  nullification  by  state  and  na¬ 
tional  legislation  is  ungentlemanly,  unfriendly,  im¬ 
moral  and  unbefitting  a  great  and  civilized  nation  like 
the  United  States.  Our  power  to  do  what  we  wish, 
however  obnoxious  or  harmful  to  neighbors,  because 
we  are  strong  and  we  know  they  will  not  and  cannot 
attack  us,  should  not  tempt  us  into  wrong  courses  of 
action.  In  all  our  Churches,  moreover,  especially  on 
our  Pacific  Coast  States,  we  should  seek  to  arouse  the 


142  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


sense  of  responsibility  and  of  magnificent  opportunity 
in  befriending  and  guiding  and  Christianizing  the 
Asiatic  within  our  bounds.  The  splendid  work  already 
being  done  on  a  relatively  limited  scale  should  be  multi¬ 
plied  many  fold.  Too  many  of  our  Churches  and 
Christians  have  apparently  forgotten  the  principles  of 
brotherhood  and  universal  goodwill  that  arc  the  vital 
and  essential  characteristics  of  the  Christian  faith  and 
the  Christian  way  of  life. 

To  sum  up:  the  urgent  need  of  the  day  is  the  thor¬ 
oughgoing  application  of  the  principles  and  the  spirit 
of  Jesus  to  all  our  international  and  inter-racial  rela¬ 
tions.  Straight  and  narrow  is  the  way  of  life,  but 
broad  is  the  road  that  leads  to  destruction,  for  nations 
as  for  individuals.  The  genuine  practice  of  the  Chris¬ 
tian  way  of  life  is  the  only  real  remedy  for  the  troubles 
and  dangers  of  the  modern  world.  It  must  be  practiced 
by  millions  upon  millions  of  individuals,  and  it  must 
be  practiced  by  classes  and  groups  and  by  nations  and 
races  in  their  mass  relationships.  This  is  not  a  demand 
for  emotionalism,  for  quixotic,  one-sided  disarmament, 
for  blind  and  pauperizing  philanthropy.  It  is  a  demand 
for  the  Christian  spirit  united  with  sound  common 
sense.  We  can  overcome  evil  only  by  good,  hate  and 
suspicion  only  by  deeds  that  are  unselfish  and  generous, 
race  pride  and  arrogance  only  by  appreciation  and 
justice  and  goodwill. 

After  the  experiences  of  nearly  a  year  in  the  Far 
East,  the  writer  returns  to  his  task,  as  secretary  of  the 
Federal  Council’s  Commission  on  International  Justice 


FINAL  IMPRESSIONS  AND  CONVICTIONS  143 


and  Goodwill,  with  a  deepened  sense  of  the  importance 
and  the  difficulty  of  the  program  essential  to  the 
achievement  of  our  ideal  of  a  Warless  World.  This 
Commission  needs  a  larger  staff  and  a  larger  budget, 
if  it  is  to  do  for  the  Churches  and  for  our  people  what 
it  should.  The  contacts  made  with  hundreds  of  mis¬ 
sionaries,  native  Christians  and  officials  and  business 
men  in  those  lands  should  be  utilized.  But  this  will 
necessarily  call  for  much  additional  activity  and  for  a 
corresponding  increase  of  facilities  for  the  work.  The 
World  Alliance  for  International  Friendship  through 
the  Churches  should  also  expand  its  program.  The 
Councils  in  China  and  Japan  need  substantial  financial 
support.  The  educational  program  in  America  also 
should  be  energetically  pushed. 

The  writer  feels  much  like  Joshua  and  Caleb  of  old 
who  were  sent  to  spy  out  the  land  of  Canaan.  He 
brings  back  a  tale  of  wondrous  experiences.  He  has 
met  many  peoples.  The  lands  are  flowing  with  milk 
and  honey;  unmeasured  opportunities  lie  open  to  us. 
But  alas,  giants  and  lions  are  in  the  way,  but  they 
are  here  rather  than  over  there.  God  is  surely  calling 
the  Churches  of  America  to  rise  and  enter  the  Promised 
Land — not  to  kill  and  burn,  but  to  carry  the  good  news 
that  in  the  providence  of  the  Father  of  All  Men,  the 
time  has  come  for  the  reconciliation  and  cooperation 
of  the  races  in  the  abolition  of  war  and  of  all  prepara¬ 
tions  for  war,  for  the  universal  rule  of  law  and  the  use 
of  international  courts  of  justice  and  boards  of  arbitra¬ 
tion  in  the  settlement  of  all  serious  international  dis¬ 
putes.  Men  of  all  races  should  live  together  as  brothers, 


144  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


and  work  together  for  establishing  the  Kingdom  of 
God  in  its  fullness  in  all  the  relations  of  life. 

Throughout  these  many  months  of  travel  and  speak¬ 
ing,  the  writer  has  told  the  Churches  of  the  Far  East 
about  the  Message  and  the  Ten- Year-Crusade  of  the 
Churches  of  America  for  a  Warless  World.  He  now 
desires  to  call  upon  the  Federal  Council,  upon  all 
Churches  and  church  members  and  upon  the  World 
Alliance  for  International  Friendship  to  make  good 
the  declarations  and  promises  of  the  Message  and  o)f 
the  Messenger. 


APPENDICES 


Appendix  I 

THE  MISSION  TO  THE  FAR  EAST 

Authorized  by  the  Administrative  Committee  of  the 

Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America, 

July  14,  1922. 

RESOLVED :  That  the  Chairman  and  Secretary  of  the 
Commission  on  International  Justice  and  Goodwill  be 
appointed  as  a  Special  Mission  to  the  Far  East,  to  convey 
to  the  Christians  and  Churches  of  China  and  Japan  and 
to  the  American  Missions  in  those  countries  the  greetings 
of  the  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  Amer¬ 
ica,  to  the  end  that  our  common  faith  and  devotion  to 
our  Lord  and  Master  may  be  strengthened,  that  mutual 
understanding  and  goodwill  between  our  peoples  may  be 
promoted,  that  the  processes  of  effective  international  co¬ 
operation  in  every  good  work  may  be  deepened,  and  that 
the  endeavors  of  Christians  and  Churches  to  achieve  a 
Warless  World  through  the  reconciliation  of  the  nations 
and  the  creation  of  international  institutions  of  justice, 
honor,  security  and  fair  economic  opportunity  for  all  alike, 
may  be  better  understood  and  more  widely  accepted. 

RESOLVED :  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Commission 
is  hereby  authorized  to  start  on  this  Mission  as  soon  as 
may  be  practicable,  in  order  to  do  such  preliminary  work 
in  China  and  Japan  as  he  may  find  desirable,  adjusting 
his  movements  to  those  of  the  Chairman,  who,  it  is  under¬ 
stood,  will  visit  the  Far  East  during  the  autumn  or  winter. 

RESOLVED  :  That  the  Board  of  Finance  be  requested 
to  endeavor  to  secure  special  funds  for  this  important 
Mission,  and  that  the  Treasurer  be  and  hereby  is  au¬ 
thorized  to  make  the  necessary  financial  arrangements  for 
the  expenses  of  the  Mission. 

i47 


148 


THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


RESOLVED:  That  the  President  and  General  Secre¬ 
tary  of  the  Federal  Council  be  requested  to  prepare  a 
Message  to  the  Christians  of  China  and  Japan  to  be  con¬ 
veyed  by  the  Mission  to  the  Far  East, 


Appendix  II 

THE  ITINERARY  IN  THE  FAR  EAST 
September,  1922 — July,  1923 


Sept. 

6 

Sailed  from  San  Francisco 
S.S.  Korea  Maru 

a 

12 

Day  in  Honolulu 

n 

23 

Arrived  Yokohama  2.30  p.m. 

a 

23-27 

Tokyo 

n 

28-30 

Kyoto 

Oct. 

1 

Shimonoseki 

a 

2- 11 

Miyazaki 

t( 

11-14 

Nagasaki 

tt 

15-18 

Shanghai 

tt 

19-22 

Hangchow 

u 

23-27 

Nanking 

tt 

28-31 

Tsinanfu 

Nov. 

1-  3 

Tsingtao 

ft 

4 

Tsinanfu 

tt 

4-  6 

Tientsin 

u 

7-14 

Peking 

tt 

15 

Tungchow 

tt 

16 

Paotingfu 

ft 

18-19 

Taiku 

ft 

20 

Fengchow  (Shansi) 

U 

23 

Taiyuanfu 

u 

24 

Shih-chia-chuang 

tt 

25-29 

Shuntefu 

tt 

29-30 

Hankow 

Dec. 

1-  4 

Wuchang 

tt 

5-  6 

Hankow 

u 

7-10 

Changsha 

a 

11 

(Hankow  en  route) 

149 

THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


150 


Dec. 

12-14 

u 

16-24 

n 

25-31 

1923 

Jan. 

1 

(( 

2 

tt 

3 

m 

4-10 

(( 

11 

a 

13-19 

{( 

21 

tt 

25 

« 

28 

tt 

29-31 

Feb. 

1-11 

tt 

11 

tt 

12 

tt 

13-15 

tt 

16 

tt 

1 7 

tt 

18 

a 

20 

a 

21 

tt 

22 

a 

23-24 

tt 

25 

tt 

26 

tt 

28-Mar.  1 

Mar. 

2 

tt 

3-  6 

tt 

6-  8 

tt 

9-1 1 

tt 

12 

tt 

13 

a 

14 

tt 

17-18 

tt 

19 

a 

20 

tt 

21 

n 

23-25 

a 

26-27 

Yangtse  River 

Shanghai 

Foochow 

Amoy 

Swatow 

Hongkong 

Canton 

Hongkong 

Manila 

Arrived  Hongkong 

Arrived  Shanghai 

Arrived  Kobe 

Kyoto 

Tokyo 

Yokohama 

Mayebashi 

Sendai 

Morioka 

Aomori 

Sapporo 

Otaru 

Hakodate 

Aomori 

Tokyo 

Yokohama 

Nagoya 

Kanazawa 

Hachiman 

Kyoto 

Osaka 

Kobe 

Okayama 

Hiroshima 

Matsuyama 

Oita 

Moji 

Hakata 

Kumamoto 

Kagoshima 

Nagasaki 


APPENDIX  II 


151 


Mar. 

29 

Steamer  for  Chosen 

tt 

30 

Fusan  and  Taiku 

tt 

3 1 -Apr.  8 

Seoul  (Keijo) 

Apr. 

9 

Pyeng  Yang  (Heijo) 

it 

10 

Sensen 

a 

11 

Mukden 

tt 

12 

Dairen 

tt 

14 

Port  Arthur 

tt 

15 

Dairen 

a 

16-19 

Mukden 

tt 

20 

Tientsin 

n 

21-26 

Peking 

tt 

28-29 

Hankow  and  Wuchang 

tt 

30 

Yangtse  River 

May 

1-  2 

Nanking 

u 

3-  4 

Soochow 

tt 

5-  6 

Shanghai 

u 

\ 

7-  8 

Hangchow 

tt 

9-14 

Shanghai 

tt 

15 

En  route  to  Nagasaki 

tt 

16 

Nagasaki  en  route  to  Kobe 

tt 

17 

Kobe  and  Osaka 

tt 

18-20 

Kyoto 

tt 

21-30 

T  okyo 

tt 

31-June  1 

Arima 

June 

2-  3 

Tokyo 

<( 

4 

Yokosuka 

tt 

4-  6 

Tokyo 

tt 

6 

Yokohama  and  sail  for  Hono¬ 
lulu,  S.S.  Tenyo  Maru 

tt 

15 

Arrive  at  Honolulu 

tt 

16-27 

Honolulu 

tt 

27 

Sail  for  San  Francisco,  S.S. 
Korea  Maru 

July 

3 

Arrive  in  San  Francisco 

% 


152  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


SUMMARY 


In  the  Philippine  Islands 

One  week  .  13 


In  Korea 

In  China 

2  visits. 

In  Japan 

3  visits. 


Twelve  days  . . . . . 24 


109 


\  Three  months  | 

|  Five  weeks  j . 

Three  weeks] 

Two  months  . 155 

Three  weeks] 


Total  number  of  addresses . 301 


addresses 

(( 


u 


tt 


Appendix  III 

LEADERS  MET  IN  THE  FAR  EAST 

A.  LEADERS  MET  IN  MANILA 

Dr.  T.  H.  Pardo  de  Tavera,  historian,  scholar,  art 
collector. 

Hon.  Manuel  L.  Quezon,  President  of  the  Senate,  en¬ 
thusiastic  Nationalist. 

Hon.  Manuel  Roxas,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Represen¬ 
tatives. 

Hon.  Osmana,  Ex-Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representa¬ 
tives. 

Hon.  Jose  G.  Sanvictores,  Chief  of  Department  of  Non- 
Christian  Tribes. 

Hon.  Jose  A.  Santos,  Secretary  of  the  Department  of 
Justice. 

Judge  Manuel  Camus,  Independent  politician,  thinker  and 
leader. 

Dr.  Camilo  Osias,  President  of  the  National  University, 
editor  of  the  National  Forum. 

Professor  Gorge  Bocobo,  Dean  of  the  Law  College  of 
the  University  of  the  Philippines. 

Mr.  T.  R.  Yangco,  wealthy  business  man,  philanthropist. 

Rev.  N.  C.  Dixon,  Pastor  First  M.  E.  Church  (Filipino). 

Governor,  General  Leonard  Wood. 

Colonel  Lucian  Sweet,  Commanding  the  Philippine  Con¬ 
stabulary. 

Dr.  G.  P.  Benton,  President  University  of  the  Philippines. 

Professor  Frank  C.  Laubach,  Union  Theological  College. 

Dr.  G.  W.  Wright,  Union  Theological  College. 

Rev.  John  B.  Furguson,  Pastor  Union  Church  (Ameri¬ 
can). 


i53 


154  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


Mr.  E.  S.  Turner,  Secretary  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

Bishop  Charles  E.  Loche,  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Rev.  E.  K.  Higdon,  Missionary,  President  Philippine 
Evangelical  Union. 

Mr.  George  C.  Sellner,  planter,  capitalist. 

General  Emilio  Aguinaldo. 

B.  LEADERS  MET  IN  KOREA 

Hon.  Yi  Sang  Chay,  “the  Grand  old  man  of  Chosen,”  out¬ 
standing  Christian  leader. 

Hon.  Yun  Chi-Ho,  a  Christian  leader,  Principal  of  the 
Songdo  Higher  Common  School  (Methodist  Episcopal 
South). 

Professor  Hugh  H.  Cynn,  educator,  author,  General  Sec¬ 
retary  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

Revs.  H.  M.  Bruen;  G.  H.  Winn  and  Dr.  A.  G.  Fletcher, 
Taiku. 

Revs.  D.  A.  Bunker;  Frank  Herron  Smith,  Seoul. 

Rev.  J.  S.  Gale;  Dr.  O.  R.  Avison,  Dr.  A.  I.  Ludlow, 
Seoul. 

Mr.  F.  M.  Brockman,  Secretary  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Seoul. 

Mr.  Ransford  S.  Miller,  United  States  Consul  General, 
Seoul. 

Revs.  C.  F.  Bernheisel ;  S.  A.  Moffett;  E.  M.  Mowry, 
Pyeng  Yang. 

Rev.  N.  C.  Whittemore ;  Dr.  S.  P.  Tipton,  Syenchun. 

Governor-General  Admiral  Baron  Saito. 

Mr.  T.  Otsuka,  Director  Home  Affairs  Bureau. 

Mr.  T.  Maruyama,  Director  of  Bureau  of  Police. 

Mr.  K.  Nakarai,  Chief  of  Education  Section. 

Dr.  T.  Takahashi,  School  Inspector,  Educational  Bureau. 

Hon.  N.  Watanabe,  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court. 

Mr.  H.  Sonoda,  Director  of  Foreign  Affairs  Section. 

Mr.  Y.  Nishimura,  Director  of  Industrial  Bureau. 

Mr.  T.  Kugimoto,  President  of  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

Mr.  M.  Ariga,  President  of  the  Industrial  Bank. 

Hon.  T.  Tani,  Mayor  of  Seoul. 

Mr.  J.  Imamura,  English  Secretary  to  the  Government- 
General. 


APPENDIX  III 


155 


C.  LEADERS  MET  IN  CHINA 

Hon.  C.  H.  Wang,  Premier  for  several  months,  chief  of 
the  Chinese  delegation  to  the  Washington  Conference; 
he  made  the  address  on  behalf  of  the  Chinese  delegation 
at  the  Reception  given  that  delegation  by  the  Federal 
Council.  A  Christian  and  son  of  a  pastor. 

Hon.  C.  T.  Wang,  Chairman  during  the  autumn  of  the 
Chinese  Commission  on  the  return  of  Kiaochow  and 
the  Shantung  Railway  to  China.  A  Christian  and  the 
son  of  a  pastor. 

Hon.  S.  T.  Wen,  Bureau  of  Foreign  Affairs,  Nanking.  A 
Christian. 

President  P.  W.  Kuo,  President  of  the  South  Eastern 
University  (National)  located  at  Nanking;  a  leading 
educator ;  a  Christian. 

President  Poling  Chang,  Nankai  University,  Tientsin.  A 
leading  Christian. 

Hon.  H.  H.  Kung,  Member  of  the  Shantung  Commission; 
President  of  Oberlin  in  China  College,  Shansi ;  De¬ 
scendant  of  Confucius  (75th  generation).  A  leading 
Christian. 

Dr.  John  Y.  Lee,  eminent  scientist,  Chief  of  Educational 
Department  of  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Shanghai. 

Rev.  Peter  Chuan,  Secretary  “China  for  Christ  Move¬ 
ment”  ;  author,  Shanghai. 

Hon.  F.  H.  Wong,  Commission  for  Foreign  Affairs, 
Hangchow. 

Hon.  Singfu  Woo,  Magistrate,  Hangchow. 

Rev.  Professor  J.  W.  Shen,  Union  Theological  College, 
Nanking. 

Rev.  Professor  Z.  K.  Sie,  Union  Theological  College, 
Nanking. 

Hon.  D.  Y.  Lin,  Commissioner  of  Forests,  Shantung. 

Rev.  F.  Matsui,  Pastor  Congregational  (Japanese)' 
Church,  Tsingtao. 

Rev.  H.  Shimomura,  Pastor  Presbyterian  (Japanese) 
Church,  Tsingtao. 

Mr.  Otoichi  Kinoshita,  Editor  Tsingtao  Leader;  a  Chris¬ 
tian. 

Mr.  K.  Hattori,  Postmaster,  Tsingtao;  a  Quaker. 


156  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


Mr.  R.  Watanabe,  Director  Yokohama  Specie  Bank, 
Tsingtao. 

General  M.  Yui,  Military  Governor,  Kiaochow. 

Hon.  M.  Akiyama,  Civil  Governor,  Kiaochow. 

Hon.  S.  Irizawa,  Mayor,  Tsingtao. 

Mr.  Adams,  U.  S.  Consul  General,  Tsingtao. 

Mr.  C.  E.  Gauss,  U.  S.  Consul,  Tsinanfu. 

Hon.  J.  G.  Schurman,  U.  S.  Minister  to  China,  Peking. 

Mr.  Grover  Clark,  Editor  Peking  Leader,  Professor  Na¬ 
tional  University,  Peking. 

Mr.  J.  B.  Powell,  Editor  the  Weekly  Review,  Shanghai. 

Rev.  Y.  Shimidzu,  Pastor  Japanese  Church,  Peking. 

Dr.  C.  P.  Wang,  General  Secretary  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Tientsin. 

Hon.  Y.  Ohata,  Minister  of  the  Imperial  Japanese  Gov¬ 
ernment,  Peking. 

Hon.  S.  V.  Wellington  Koo,  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs, 
Peking. 

Hon.  Li  Yuan-Hung,  President  Chinese  Republic. 

Mr.  T.  Fuse,  Editor  North  China  Standard,  Peking. 

Hon.  Rinji  Nakayama,  Advisor  to  the  Ministry  of  Com¬ 
munications,  Peking. 

Mr.  Y.  T.  Wu,  Exec.  Sec.  Peking  Christian  Student  Work 
Union. 

Mr.  H.  C.  Hu,  Editor  The  Life,  Peking. 

Hon.  R.  F.  Johnston,  Ex-Governor  Weihaiwei,  Tutor  to 
the  Young  Emperor,  author,  Peking. 

Hon.  Y.  T.  Tsur,  late  President  Tsing  Hua  College, 
Peking. 

Dr.  David  Z.  T.  Yui,  General  Secretary  Y.  M.  C.  A. ; 
President  of  the  National  Christian  Council,  Shanghai. 

Hon.  M.  L.  Chiang,  Vice  Chancellor  National  University, 
Peking;  prominent  leader  in  the  Renaissance  Move¬ 
ment  ;  a  non-Government  delegate  to  the  Washington 
Conference. 

President  Y.  S.  Tsao,  Tsing  Hua  College,  Peking. 

Professor  Hu  Shih,  Dean,  National  University,  Peking; 
leader  Renaissance  Movement. 

Hon.  Lin  Goh  Wang,  Counselor  Foreign  Office,  Peking. 

Hon.  C.  A.  Chang,  Vice  Governor  of  the  Bank  of  China, 
Peking. 

Hon.  H.  T.  Tseng,  a  former  Cabinet  Minister,  Peking. 


APPENDIX  III  157 

Mr.  H.  Y.  Shih,  Secretary  to  the  Director  of  Railways, 
Peking. 

Mr.  K.  C.  Li,  English  Secretary  to  the  Ministry  of  Com¬ 
munications,  Peking. 

Mr.  K.  T.  Ting,  on  the  Customs  Staff,  Peking. 

Mr.  Y.  S.  Chang,  Executive  Secretary  International  Re¬ 
lief  Commission,  Peking. 

Mr.  C.  H.  Fei,  Director  Educational  Work  Y.  M.  C.  A., 
Peking. 

Hon.  L.  Y.  Tang,  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs,  Peking. 

Rev.  Li-Mei  Ding,  Evangelist,  “Life  Service  Campaign/’ 

Mr.  T.  C.  Hsu,  Chief  of  Commercial  Dept.,  Yanyehping 
Iron  Works,  Hankow. 

Mr.  John  Archibald,  Editor  Central  China  Post,  Hankow. 

Dr.  F.  C.  Yen,  Dean  of  Yale  in  China  Medical  College, 
Changsha. 

Miss  Tseng,  Principal  Independent  Girls’  College, 
Changsha. 

Professor  Beausen  Tseng,  Independent  Girls’  College, 
Changsha. 

Mr.  Malcolm  A.  Young,  Salt  Gabelle,  Peking. 

Mr.  T.  L.  Teng,  Secretary  China  Home  Missionary  So¬ 
ciety,  Shanghai. 

Dr.  Sun  Yat-sen,  former  President  of  China,  Shanghai. 

Rev.  G.  H.  Wong,  Pastor  M.  E.  Church,  Foochow. 

Professor  Nga  Geng-Guong,  Foochow  College,  Foochow. 

Hon.  S.  Ling,  Civil  Governor,  Foochow. 

Professor  H.  C.  Lim,  Swatow  Academy,  Swatow. 

Mr.  J.  Usang  Ly,  Director  Chinese  Merchants  Bank, 
Canton. 

Professor  Tsung  Ngok  Chan,  Educational  Commission  of 
Kwantung,  Canton. 

Mr.  Goh  Shibuya,  Canton  Trading  Co.,  Canton. 

Rev.  Theodore  Chow,  Pastor  M.  E.  Church,  Canton. 

Rev.  L.  S.  Leung,  Secretary  Kwangtung  Evangelical  As¬ 
sociation,  Canton. 

Professor  Y.  C.  Kwan,  Principal  Union  Middle  School, 
Canton. 

Dr.  Chung-ming  Liu,  Christian  Medical  College,  Mukden. 

Mr.  Yu-lung  Yen,  Student  Secretary  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
Mukden. 


158  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


Dr.  C.  M.  Chu,  Secretary  Boy’s  Work,  Y.  M.  C.  A., 
Mukden. 

Dr.  Wen-han  Kao,  Christian  Medical  College,  Mukden. 

Dr.  I.  Ogawa,  Director  Red  Cross  Hospital,  Mukden. 

Rev.  M.  Watanabe,  Pastor  Kumiai  (Congregational  Jap¬ 
anese)  Church,  Mukden. 

Mr.  Toraji  Makino,  Director  Social  Work,  South  Man¬ 
churian  Railway,  Dalney. 

Mr.  Eli  Taylor,  U.  S.  Vice  Consul,  Mukden. 

Mr.  W.  W.  Ritchie,  Postal  Commissioner  for  North  Man¬ 
churia,  Harbin. 

Mr.  H.  Y.  Niu,  Mechanical  Dept.  China  Eastern  Railway, 
Harbin. 

Dr.  Pond  A.  Gee,  son  of  Gee  Gam  (of  San  Francisco), 
Tientsin. 

Six  Members  North  China  Dartmouth  Alumni  Associa¬ 
tion  (Business  Men),  Peking. 

Rev.  Professor  J.  F.  Li,  Peking  University. 

Mr.  F.  J.  Hsu,  Secretary  Peking  Branch  “Save  the 
Nations  through  Christ  Movement.” 

Mr.  Neander  C.  S.  Chang,  Secretary  Peking  Church  Fed¬ 
eration  and  of  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Peking. 

Rev.  K.  L.  Pao,  Pastor  Independent  Church,  Pres.  Peking 
Church  Federation. 

Professor  Timothy  T.  Lew,  Dean,  Department  Theology, 
Peking  University,  Peking. 

Mr.  J.  E.  Baker,  Advisor  to  the  Ministry  of  Communica¬ 
tion,  Peking. 

Mr.  Edward  Kung,  Secretary  Famine  Relief  Commis¬ 
sion;  also  of  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Hankow. 

Mr.  I.  K.  Kwan,  Chief  Executive,  Yantze  Engineering 
Works,  Hankow. 

Mr.  C.  C.  Liu,  Secretary  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Wuchang. 

Professor  Ching-Fu  Liu,  Principal  Middle  School  of 
Nanking  University,  Nanking. 

Mr.  K.  Z.  Loh,  Secretary  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Soochow. 

Hon.  Geo.  C.  Hsu,  former  Minister  of  Justice,  Canton 
Govt.;  Friend  of  Sun  Yat-sen,  Shanghai. 

Rev.  Z.  T.  Kaung,  Pastor  Allen  Memorial  Church, 
Shanghai. 


APPENDIX  III 


159 


D.  LEADERS  MET  IN  JAPAN 

Viscount  Shibusawa,  outstanding  advocate  of  Japanese 
American  Goodwill. 

Baron  Sakatani,  outstanding  leader  of  the  peace  move¬ 
ment  in  Japan,  chairman  of  the  League  of  Nations 
Association  of  Japan  and  member  of  many  similar  com¬ 
mittees.  Vice-President  of  the  House  of  Peers. 

Viscount  Kaneko,  member  of  the  Privy  Council,  Harvard 
graduate,  one  of  the  originators  of  the  Gentlemen’s 
Agreement,  friend  of  many  eminent  Americans,  among 
them  President  Roosevelt. 

Baron  Goto,  former  Governor  of  Formosa,  Head  of 
South  Manchurian  Railway,  Mayor  of  Tokyo. 

Hon.  T.  Tokonami,  leading  force  in  the  Seiyukai;  twice 
Minister  of  Home  Affairs. 

Hon.  Dr.  Midzuno,  Minister  of  Home  Affairs,  former 
Vice  Governor  of  Korea. 

Hon.  D.  Tagawa,  member  of  the  House  of  Representa¬ 
tives,  liberal  leader. 

Hon.  Y.  Ozaki,  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
leading  anti-militarist. 

Prince  Tokugawa,  President  of  the  House  of  Peers. 

Admiral  Ide,  Vice  Minister  of  the  Navy. 

Admiral  Yamashita,  Chief  of  the  Board  of  Strategy. 

Dr.  J.  Soyeda,  international  lawyer,  active  worker  for 
international  goodwill. 

Professor  M.  Anesaki,  Imperial  University,  twice  ex¬ 
change  lecturer,  secretary  Association  Concordia. 

Professor  S.  Yanada,  Imperial  University,  Tokyo, 
specialist  in  International  Law. 

Professor  S.  Suyehiro,  Imperial  University  Kyoto,  expert 
on  California  Japanese  questions. 

Mr.  M.  Odagiri,  Director  of  the  Yokohama  Specie  Bank. 

Mr.  J.  Inouye,  Director  of  the  Bank  of  Japan. 

Mr.  E.  Ono,  Director  of  the  Commercial  Bank,  Tokyo. 

Mr.  G.  Zumoto,  Editor  Herald  of  Asia. 

Mr.  S.  Shiba,  Editor  Japan  Times. 

Mr.  N.  Kato,  English  Editor  Osaka  Mainichi. 

Hon.  T.  Tanaka,  Vice  Minister  Foreign  Affairs. 


160  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


Hon.  M.  Hanihara,  late  Vice  Minister  Foreign  Affairs, 
now  Ambassador  at  Washington. 

Admiral  Kanji  Kato,  Member  of  the  Japanese  Delegation 
at  the  Washington  Conference. 

Dr.  D.  Ebina,  President  Doshisha  University,  Kyoto. 

Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Motoda,  President  Japan  Branch  World 
Alliance  for  International  Friendship. 

Dr.  S.  Aso,  President  Woman’s  University,  Tokyo. 

Mrs.  Inouye,  President  Women’s  Peace  Society  of  Japan. 

Madam  Kajiho  Yajima,  President  W.  C.  T.  *U.,  “the 
Grand  old  Lady  of  Japan”;  the  carrier  to  President 
Harding  of  the  Japanese  Women’s  Peace  Petition. 

Hon.  Chas.  B.  Warran,  United  States  Ambassador  to 
Japan. 

Mr.  Hugh  Wilson,  Charge  d’ Affaire,  American  Embassy. 

Hon.  K.  Mochizuki,  M.P.,  Leader  of  the  Kenseikai. 

Professor  Fukuzawa,  Imperial  University,  Tokyo;  lec¬ 
turer  at  the  Williams  College  Conference  on  Interna¬ 
tional  Relations. 

Count  Terashima,  Member  of  the  House  of  Peers. 

Viscount  Inouye,  President  Pan  Pacific  Club  of  Tokyo. 

Mr.  K.  Tomeoka,  Chief  of  Social  Service  Bureau,  Depart¬ 
ment  Home  Affairs. 

President  S.  Sato,  Imperial  University,  Sapporo. 

Mr.  I.  Kawakami,  Executive  Secretary,  Japan  Peace 
Council,  Tokyo. 

Professor  Shiozawa,  Dean  of  Waseda  University,  Tokyo. 

Dr.  F.  J.  Abbott,  Commercial  Attache,  American  Embassy. 

Professors  Iso,  Abe  and  Uchigasaki,  Waseda  University, 
Tokyo. 

Mr.  T.  Dan,  President  of  the  Industrial  Club,  Head  of 
the  Mitsui  Interests. 

Mr.  S.  Asano,  President  of  the  Oriental  Steamship  Co. 

<  (T.K.K.) 

Count  Soyejima,  specialist  on  the  opium  question  in  the 
Far  East. 

Mr.  T.  Ozawa,  leading  Christian  business  man,  public 
spirited  citizen,  Kyoto. 

His  Excellency  Kozui  Otani,  Lord  Chief  Abbott,  Higashi, 
Hongwanji,  Kyoto. 


APPENDIX  III 


161 


Mr.  W.  Araki,  Christian  business  man,  Sec.  Japan 
America  Society,  Osaka. 

Mr.  K.  Matsukata,  President  Japan  America  Society  of 
Western  Japan,  President  Kawasaki  Dock  Yards  Com¬ 
pany,  Kobe. 

Mr.  S.  Tamura,  Christian  business  man,  President  Japan 
American  Relations  Com.,  Kobe. 

Mr.  Toyohiko  Kagawa,  Social  Worker  and  Christian 
Labor  Leader,  Kobe. 

Hon.  M.  Nagai,  Chief  of  Bureau  of  Emigration,  Foreign 
Office,  Tokyo. 

Mr.  Setsuzo  Sawada,  Foreign  Office,  expert  on  Japan- 
China  Relations,  Tokyo. 

Dr.  M.  Sawanagi,  former  President  Imperial  University, 
Kyoto,  President  National  Association  for  Interna¬ 
tional  Education. 

Mr.  B.  W.  Fleisher,  Editor  Japan  Advertiser,  Tokyo. 

Dr.  K.  Hayashi,  President  Keio  University,  Tokyo. 

Dr.  Y.  Uyehara,  Member  House  of  Representatives, 
Member  Kenseikai. 

Colonel  K.  Mizuno,  Former  Adviser  on  the  Navy  to  the 
Okuma  Cabinet. 

Lt.  General  T.  Kono,  Member  Intelligence  Bureau  of  the 
Army  during  Siberian  Occupation. 

Mr.  N.  Takanabe,  Editor  Nichirenshu  Monthly  Magazine p 
Patriotic  Agitator. 

Mr.  Bunji  Suzuki,  Chairman  Japanese  General  Federation 
of  Labor. 

Mr.  C.  Shibama,  Secretary  Japan  America  Society  of 
Tokyo. 

Dr.  B.  Hattori,  Secretary  Tokyo  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

Professor  S.  Yoshino,  Imp.  Univ.,  Tokyo ;  leader  of  the 
Liberal  Movement  in  Japan ;  Editor,  Author. 

Mr.  K.  Uchimura,  Editor  Bible  Student,  Independent 
Christian  Leader,  Lecturer. 

Mr.  K.  Matsuoka,  Sec.-Treas.  General  Federation  of 
Labor. 

Mr.  K.  Okabe,  Sec.  East  Japan  Union  of  Agricultural 
Workers. 

Adjutant  H.  Nakamura,  Yokosuka  Navy  Yard. 

Mr.  M.  Saiden,  Editor  Jiji  Shimpo,  Tokyo. 


162  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


Mr.  T.  Nakasato,  Editor  Asahi  Shimbun,  Tokyo. 

Mr.  E.  Noguchi,  Sec.  Imperial  Educational  Association; 

Secretary  Education  Promotion  League. 

Mr.  Y.  Shimonaka,  Secretary  Japan  Teacher’s  Union. 
Hon.  Y.  Kasuya,  President  House  of  Representatives. 
Hon.  G.  Matsuda,  Vice-President,  House  of  Representa¬ 
tives. 


Appendix  IV 

RESPONSES  FROM  THE  FAR  EAST 

FROM  THE  NATIONAL  CHRISTIAN  COUNCIL  OF  CHINA 

To  the  Federal  Council  of  the 
Churches  of  Christ  in  America  : 

At  the  first  Annual  Meeting  of  the  National  Christian 
Council  held  at  Shanghai  in  May,  1923,  we  received  your 
message  sent  and  would  express  our  appreciation  of  your 
Christian  hope  and  wise  endeavor  for  the  promotion  of 
cordial  international  relations  and  for  the  achievement  of 
a  Warless  World. 

We  wish  also  to  express  to  you  our  gratitude  for  sending 
the  Rev.  Sidney  L.  Gulick  to  convey  this  message  in 
person  and  our  hope  that  official  and  personal  communica¬ 
tions  of  this  sort  may  be  continued  and  made  mutual  in  the 
future. 

In  particular  we  would  express  our  deep  sympathy 
with  the  terms  of  your  communication  which  touch  the 
means  of  fostering  international  justice  and  good  will; 
and  we  send  you  herewith  the  names  of  our  Standing 
Committee  on  International  Relations,  together  with  the 
terms  of  reference  under  which  the  committee  was  ap¬ 
pointed. 


Chairman  National  Christian  Council 

(Signed)  Henry  T.  Hodgkins, 
Logan  H.  Roots, 

K.  T.  Chung, 

Y.  J.  Fan, 

Executive  Secretaries. 


163 


164  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


COMMITTEE  ON  INTERNATIONAL  RELATIONS: 


(Prof.  T.  C.  Chao,  Chairman 
Mr.  S.  T.  Wen 
Rev.  Dr.  T.  T.  Lew 
Rev.  Bishop  L.  J.  Birney 
Miss  S.  C.  Ting 
Rev.  Dr.  J.  L.  Stuart 
Rev.  E.  J.  Bentley 


Dr.  Chang  Po-ling 
Miss  Tseng  Pao-suen 
Mr.  F.  S.  Brockman 
Mr.  T.  Z.  Koo 
Miss  C.  J.  Lambert 
Rt.  Rev.  H.  J.  Molony 


Terms  of  Reference: 

1.  To  conduct  such  research  as  it  may  think  best  in  the 
application  of  Christian  principles  to  our  interna¬ 
tional  life  and  more  particularly  to  seek  to  make  clear 
the  line  along  which  the  Church  in  China  can  best 
make  its  contribution  to  the  Universal  Church. 

2.  To  promote  among  the  churches  the  careful  study 
of  international  questions  from  the  Christian  stand¬ 
point,  to  emphasize  the  responsibility  of  the  church 
and  of  our  Christian  citizens  for  promoting  inter¬ 
national  and  inter-racial  justice  and  goodwill,  and 
to  help  toward  a  common  Christian  witness  on  these 
questions. 

3.  To  make  suggestions  to  the  Council  or  to  the  Execu¬ 
tive  Committee  as  to  specific  actions  which  might  be 
taken  in  the  sphere  of  international  relations. 

4.  To  serve  as  the  connecting  agency  between  the 
Churches  of  China  and  the  Church  agencies  of  other 
countries  dealing  in  international  relations,  and 
specifically  to  serve  as  the  China  Branch  of  the  World 
Alliance  for  Promoting  International  Friendship 
Through  the  Churches. 


May  29,  1923, 
Shanghai,  China. 


APPENDIX  IV 


165 


FROM  THE  JAPAN  FEDERATION  OF  CHURCHES 

To  the  Federal  Council  of  the 

Churches  of  Christ  in  America : 

Heartiest  Christian  Greetings : 

At  the  last  annual  meeting  of  the  Federation  of  Chris¬ 
tian  Churches  in  Japan  the  following  resolution  concern¬ 
ing  World  Peace  was  unanimously  adopted. 

“We  heartily  approve  of  the  mission  entrusted  to  Dr. 
Sidney  L.  Gulick,  the  representative  of  the  Federal  Coun¬ 
cil  of  Christian  Churches  in  America,  with  its  goal  of  a 
Warless  World;  toward  the  realization  of  which  it  is  de¬ 
termined  during  the  next  ten  years  especially  to  strive 
to  the  uttermost  to  contribute  toward  this  end.  We  the 
Christians  of  Japan  are  in  hearty  accord  and  ready  to  co¬ 
operate,  eager  to  accomplish  this  purpose. 

“We  rejoice  that  since  the  Washington  Conference  the 
dark  clouds  which  hovered  over  American- Japanese  rela¬ 
tions  have  been  dispersed.  However  the  fact  that  the 
anti- Japanese  spirit  has  again  raised  its  head  and  agita¬ 
tions  which  ignore  justice  and  the  principle  of  humanity 
are  again  in  evidence  among  a  section  of  the  American 
people  is  an  unexpected  phenomenon  concerning  which 
we  feel  the  utmost  anxiety. 

“We  pray  that  the  treaty  between  Japan  and  America 
which  soon  expires  and  is  to  be  renewed  in  the  near  future 
may  truly  guarantee  the  friendship  and  peace  of  these  two 
nations.  We  also  ardently  hope  that  at  this  time  the  Fed¬ 
eral  Council  of  Christian  Churches  in  America  will  anew 
stress  America’s  historic  stand  for  freedom,  equality, 
justice  and  the  principle  of  humanity,  direct  and  develop 
public  opinion  and  contribute  in  a  large  way  toward  the 
intimacy  and  peaceful  relations  of  these  two  nations. 
Moreover  we  are  determined  to  direct  public  opinion  here 
among  the  Japanese  people  and  earnestly  strive  in  behalf 
of  world  peace.” 

May  the  blessing  of  God  be  upon  your  Federation  and 


166  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


upon  each  member  of  it,  and  may  His  Spirit  lead  you  to 
success  in  all  you  plan  for  Him. 

On  behalf  of  the  Japan  Federation  of  Churches 
(Signed)  Kameji  Ishizaka,  President, 
Kikutaro  Matsuno,  Secretary. 

June  20,  1923, 

Tokio,  Japan. 


FROM  THE  JAPAN  COUNCIL  OF  THE  WORLD  ALLIANCE  FOR 
INTERNATIONAL  FRIENDSHIP  TPIROUGH  THE  CHURCHES 

To  the  Members  of  the  Federal  Council  of  Churches  of 
Christ  in  America  and  of  the  American  Council  of  the 
World  Alliance  for  International  Friendship  through 
the  Churches, 

Greeting : — 

With  wholehearted  sincerity  we  have  received  Dr. 
Sidney  L.  Gulick  representing  the  Federal  Council  of 
Churches  of  Christ  in  America  and  the  Message  he  has 
brought  to  our  nation.  In  unity  and  cooperation  we  shall 
make  our  earnest  appeal  to  the  Christians  in  this  country, 
and  shall  put  forth  every  effort  to  join  you  in  your  move¬ 
ment  toward  the  realization  of  a  Warless  World. 

We  greatly  regretted  that,  owing  to  unavoidable  circum¬ 
stances,  Dr.  John  H.  Finley  was  unable  to  come.  But 
we  were  happy  to  welcome  Dr.  Gulick,  who  is  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  conditions  in  our  nation.  He  has 
visited  practically  every  important  city  in  the  country,  and 
with  his  command  of  the  Japanese  language  he  has  clearly 
explained  to  us  the  earnest  efforts  of  the  Federal  Council 
of  Churches  of  Christ  in  America  and  of  the  American 
Alliance  for  International  Friendship,  in  connection  with 
American- Japanese  relations  and  the  Washington  Confer¬ 
ence.  This  has  given  to  the  Japanese  Christians  valuable 
suggestions,  causing  them  to  feel  the  necessity  of  a  united 
organization. 

Moreover,  Dr.  Gulick,  by  his  frank  discussions  with 
Prefectural  and  Municipal  officials,  and  with  the  people 
in  general,  has  produced  a  profound  impression  and  has 


APPENDIX  IV 


167 


contributed  much  towards  the  creating  of  better  relations 
between  America  and  Japan.  Dr.  Gulick  has  also  care¬ 
fully  and  clearly  explained  the  Calif ornia- Japanese  prob¬ 
lem,  about  which  it  is  so  easy  for  us  to  have  misunder¬ 
standings.  By  indicating  special  conditions  in  the  United 
States,  by  tracing  the  history  of  its  immigration  and  by 
stating  the  causes  of  the  existing  state  of  things,  he  has 
helped  us  much  in  gaining  an  accurate  understanding  of 
the  California  question.  In  so  doing,  he  has  won  to  his 
point  of  view  many  intelligent  people  and  has  dispelled 
any  misunderstandings  which  they  had.  At  any  rate, 
the  coming  of  Dr.  Gulick  at  this  particular  time  has  made 
a  deep  impression  upon  the  general  public,  and  has  helped 
to  foster  friendly  relations  between  this  country  and 
America.  Thus  we  sincerely  believe  that  he  has  fully 
accomplished  his  mission  to  our  nation. 

Indeed,  today  is  the  time  when  the  Christian  people 
must  rise  up  unitedly  for  the  establishment  of  a  better 
world.  For  there  are  indications  that  the  sufferings  and 
struggles  of  the  people  in  the  world  today  are  far  more 
severe  than  during  the  War.  By  becoming  accustomed 
to  the  methods  of  warfare  many  have  lost  a  high  moral 
consciousness.  Unless  the  Christians  of  the  world  stand 
up  as  one  body  and  alleviate  the  distressing  effects  of  the 
War,  helping  to  make  necessary  readjustments  in  present 
conditions,  the  nations  will  again  sharpen  the  weapons 
of  war,  and  the  world  will  become  a  bloody  battlefield  on 
which  the  strong  will  devour  the  weak.  In  this  country 
we  shudder  at  the  thought  that,  as  a  result  of  the  War, 
the  hearts  of  our  people  have  become  more  hardened  and 
their  sense  of  moral  responsibility  is  greatly  weakened. 
But  we  are  told  that  far  worse  conditions  prevail  in 
Central  Europe. 

Such  a  deplorable  moral  condition  is  due  fundamentally 
to  a  wrong  conception  of  human  life.  If  a  radical  change 
in  the  interpretation  of  life  does  not  come  soon,  it  will 
be  impossible  to  deliver  the  people  from  their  moral 
degradation.  It  is  very  evident,  therefore,  that  the  Chris¬ 
tian  people  of  the  world  are  confronted  today  with  a 
serious  and  tremendous  task.  Seeing  such  a  task  before 
us,  we  feel  that  the  Christians  of  Japan  must  unite  their 


168  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


forces  and,  following  in  the  footsteps  of  the  Christians 
of  your  nation,  endeavor  to  accomplish  what  we  fully 
believe  to  be  the  will  of  God. 

And  so  we  particularly  wish  today  that  there  may  be 
found  the  right  solution  for  the  problems  in  the  Near 
East  and  for  those  involved  in  Franco-German  relation^. 
As  a  proverb  says:  “One  who  wishes  to  enjoy  health 
must  keep  his  body  clean,”  so  the  Christian  people  who 
desire  the  moral  health  of  the  world  should  first  of  all  do 
their  utmost  to  find  solutions  for  the  above  problems. 

In  this  connection,  we  wish  to  say  that  the  resolutions 
passed  in  August  of  last  year  at  the  Copenhagen  Confer¬ 
ence  of  the  World  Alliance  for  International  Friendship 
through  the  Churches  and  those  made  by  the  Executive 
Committee  of  your  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of 
Christ,  both  in  December  of  last  year  and  in  February  of 
this  year,  were  most  appropriate  to  the  situation.  We 
believe  that  the  country  that  is  peculiarly  suited  to  put 
those  resolutions  into  effect  is  indeed  your  nation.  We 
earnestly  desire  that  your  nation,  either  by  entering  the 
League  of  Nations,  or,  if  it  should  find  it  difficult  to  do 
so,  by  calling  again  a  World  Conference  may  find  solutions 
for  these  difficult  problems,  especially  those  in  the  Near 
East  and  in  Central  Europe.  Whichever  method  you  may 
choose,  we  do  hope  that  America  may  speedily  destroy 
the  root  of  the  world  trouble  and  make  a  forward  move 
to  help  restore  stability  in  human  society.  This  is  our 
unceasing  prayer! 


Very  sincerely  yours, 

(Signed)  Sakunoshin  Modota,  President , 
Tasuku  Tsuga,  Secretary. 

Japan  Council  of  the  World  Alli¬ 
ance  for  International  Friendship 
Through  the  Churches. 


May  29,  1923, 
Tokyo,  Japan. 


APPENDIX  IV 


169 


FROM  THE  JAPAN  MISSION  OF  THE  AMERICAN  BOARD  OF 
COMMISSIONERS  FOR  FOREIGN  MISSIONS 

The  Japan  Mission  of  the  American  Board  of  Commis¬ 
sioners  for  Foreign  Missions  to  the  Federal  Council  of 
the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America. 


Dear  Brethren : — 

We,  the  members  of  the  Japan  Mission  of  the  American 
Board,  wish  to  express  our  very  deep  appreciation  of  the 
work  that  the  Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ 
in  America  is  doing  in  behalf  of  world  peace  through  its 
Commission  on  International  Justice  and  Goodwill. 

We  greatly  rejoice  at  the  increasingly  evident  signs  of 
success  attending  the  efforts  of  the  Commission  to  remove 
misunderstandings  and  to  promote  more  cordial  relations 
between  the  peoples  of  Japan  and  America,  and  we 
earnestly  pray  that  continued  effort  along  this  line  may 
finally  result  in  the  establishment  of  a  firm  and  lasting 
friendship  between  these  two  nations. 

We  thank  the  Council  most  heartily  for  sending  its 
representative,  Dr.  Sidney  L.  Gulick,  as  a  deputation  to 
the  Churches  of  China  and  Japan,  with  a  fraternal  mes¬ 
sage  of  goodwill  from  the  Federated  Churches  of  America. 
We  sincerely  believe  that  this  message  to  the  churches, 
and  the  addresses  delivered  by  Dr.  Gulick  in  the  principal 
cities  of  China,  Korea  and  Japan,  have  very  materially 
served  to  advance  the  work  of  Christian  Missions  in  the 
Orient  and  the  cause  of  International  Peace  and  Brother¬ 
hood. 

Rejoicing  in  the  wide-reaching  influence  of  the  World 
Alliance  for  International  Friendship  through  the 
Churches,  and  warmly  sympathizing  with  the  Ten- Year 
Campaign  for  a  Warless  World,  we  give  thanks  for  what 
has  already  been  accomplished  and  pray  for  the  complete 
fulfilment  of  these  two  great  aims. 

Praying  for  God’s  richest  blessing  upon  the  Federated 


170  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


Churches  of  America  and  upon  all  their  work  in  behalf 
of  the  Kingdom,  we  remain, 

Fraternally  yours, 

(Signed)  Frank  Cary,  Chairman, 

Edward  S.  Cobb,  Secretary. 

June  22,  1923, 

Kyoto,  Japan. 


Appendix  V 

THF  AMERICAN  PRESS  AND  THE  JAPANESE 

DISASTER 

Shortly  after  the  disaster  in  Japan,  a  young  Japanese 
business  man  in  New  York  City  wrote  to  a  friend  describ¬ 
ing  the  tense  days  of  anxiety  when  the  Japanese  in  this 
country  were  waiting  in  agonized  suspense  for  dreaded 
news  of  relatives  and  friends,  and  he  said  that  the  one 
comfort,  the  one  thing  that  counted  most  in  that  time  of 
horror  was  the  great  outpouring  of  sympathy  from  the 
whole  American  people  and  its  immediate  expression  in 
practical  aid.  And  he  added  that  he  had  gathered  as 
many  newspaper  editorials  as  possible  to  send  back  to 
Japan  so  that  his  people  might  know  the  true  heart  of 
America. 

This  is  not  an  isolated  incident ;  it  is  typical  of  the 
experience  of  the  Japanese  in  this  country.  They  re¬ 
acted  quickly  to  the  great  tidal  wave  of  human  sympathy 
that  swept  through  every  section  of  the  United  States, 
blotting  out  all  differences  of  race,  creed  and  political 
disagreements,  and  binding  mankind  into  one  common 
humanity;  a  spirit  reflected  in  the  press  throughout  the 
country. 

A  glance  at  the  headlines  of  the  editorials  shows  that 
from  East,  West,  North  and  South  the  American  people 
voiced  their  sympathy  for  a  brave  and  stricken  people 
and  their  desire  to  be  of  the  utmost  service.  “California 
Should  Help  Sufferers  of  Japan,”  The  Sacramento  Bee; 
“Hands  Across  the  Sea,”  Los  Angeles  Times ;  “We  are 
Ready  to  Serve” — “No  East  and  West  in  the  Hour  of 
Calamity,”  Post  Intelligencer,  Seattle ;  “Kinship  of  Man¬ 
kind  is  Shown  by  World  Attitude  Toward  Stricken  Peo¬ 
ple,”  San  Francisco  Chronicle;  “Our  Opportunity  to 

171 


172  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


Aid,”  Springfield  Republican;  “Help  Gallant  Japan,”  Bos¬ 
ton  Post ;  “Japanese  Disaster  Shows  World  is  Still  Ten¬ 
der-Hearted,”  Fort  Worth  Star-Telegram;  “Let  us  Show 
Japan  How  We  Can  Help,”  Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia; 
“Let  us  Make  a  Treaty  of  Love,”  Baltimore  Sun;  “Hands 
Across  the  Pacific,”  Chicago  Tribune;  “Japan  Will  Arise,” 
St.  Louis  Globe-Democrat.  These  sentiments  are  typical 
of  those  of  the  whole  American  press. 

America’s  !heart-felt  response  to  suffering  japan 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  newspaper  editorials  will  find 
their  way  throughout  Japan,  for  they  have  a  message  from 
the  people  of  America  to  the  people  of  the  Island  Empire 
that  is  fraught  with  genuine  friendship  and  goodwill. 

The  Chicago  Daily  Tribune  writes:  “One  course  and 
only  one  is  open  to  Americans.  Organization  for  relief 
of  a  fellow  nation  should  be  immediate  and  comprehen¬ 
sive.  In  Japan’s  desolation  is  America’s  opportunity  to 
prove  a  friendship  far  greater  than  words.  The  friend¬ 
ship  of  diplomacy  is  a  weak  thing  hanging  upon  phrases. 
A  friendship  of  deeds  and  service  now  can  reveal  the 
heart  of  America  to  the  heart  of  Japan  in  a  manner  which 
no  treaty  ever  conceived  could  do.  They  have  the  world’s 
pity,  they  must  have  America’s  help.” 

San  Francisco  Chronicle:  “The  heart  of  the  civilized 
world  goes  out  to  Japan  in  this  her  hour  of  trial.  It  is 
one  of  the  redeeming  traits  of  mankind  that  in  emer¬ 
gencies  such  as  this,  no  selfish  thought  or  unworthy 
motive  actuates  the  children  of  men.”  .  .  .  “Until  such 
time  as  we  know  what  to  do  and  where  to  do  it  we  are 
helpless  to  aid  save  in  making  known  to  our  friends  and 
brothers  in  Japan  our  willingness — nay  our  anxiety  to 
serve.” 

New  York  World:  “Japan  can  rest  assured  of  swift 
sympathy  and  material  assistance  from  the  United 
States.” 

Indianapolis  News:  “Goodness  of  heart  is  the  inspira¬ 
tion  of  every  gift  to  this  cause,  but  Americans  alert  to 
the  country’s  position  in  international  affairs  have  been 
quick  to  see  that  here  is  a  rare  chance  to  demonstrate  that 


APPENDIX  V 


173 


relations  between  the  United  States  and  Japan  are 
friendly.  Whatever  basis  there  was  for  fear  that  some 
day  the  United  States  would  be  obliged  to  resist  Japan’s 
military  aggression  has  been  swept  away  by  a  tragedy 
which  has  left  Japan  impoverished  and  sick.  Every 
American  pulse  should  quicken  at  thought  of  Japan’s 
plight  and  every  spare  dollar  that  can  be  used  for  relief 
should  be  given,  not  as  alms,  but  as  a  tribute  from  the 
world’s  richest  nation  to  what  has  become  within  a  week 
the  world’s  most  anguished  nation. 

Minneapolis  Tribune:  “President  Coolidge  does  well 
in  making  as  his  major  task  for  the  time  being  a  study  of 
what  America  can  do  to  help,  and  help  quickly.  The  peo¬ 
ple  whom  he  represents  stand  ready  to  rally  aggressively 
and  generously  behind  his  leadership.” 

Kansas  City  Star:  “In  this  country,  especially,  where 
a  large  measure  of  prosperity  is  enjoyed,  where  there  has 
been  comparative  freedom  from  great  disasters,  there 
should  come  substantial  aid  for  a  friendly  power  in  dis¬ 
tress.  The  relations  of  Japan  and  the  United  States  never 
have  been  broken.  These  relations  have  been  made  even 
more  secure  by  the  recent  Pacific  pact  in  which  Japan 
yielded  large  considerations  for  the  better  security  of  the 
peace  of  the  world.” 

New  York  Herald:  “America  will  offer  of  her  bounty 
not  from  a  sense  of  duty  but  from  a  spirit  of  apprecia¬ 
tion  of  the  suffering  of  a  great  friendly  nation.” 

Los  Angeles  Daily  Times:  “In  the  face  of  vast  and 
overwhelming  disaster  all  physical  barriers  are  down. 
The  greater  brotherhood  asserts  itself.  The  people  of 
America  are  eager  and  anxious  to  serve  in  the  alleviation 
of  suffering.  Meanwhile  the  nation’s  purse  is  open,  and 
so  far  as  money  may  be  of  use,  the  stream  will  not  be 
sluggish  or  stinted.” 

Oakland  Tribune:  “Civilization  responds  to  some 
emergencies  by  making  war,  but  that  same  civilization 
which  sends  some  armies  clashing  together,  or  which  or¬ 
ders  nations  to  sit  aloof  and  study  the  vulnerable  points 
of  their  neighbors,  has  the  heart  and  saving  grace  to 
respond  to  the  call  for  help.  Humanity  can  rise  above 


174  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


the  preachments  of  jingoists  and  a  fellow  feeling  can 
cross  the  ocean.” 

The  Sacramento  Bee:  The  Mayor’s  proclamation  says: 
“Sacramento  is  at  the  service  of  Japan  in  her  hour  of 
need,  and  whatever  can  be  humanly  done  to  relieve  suffer¬ 
ing  will  be  undertaken  by  this  city  when  the  call  is  given.” 

japan’s  GENEROSITY  AT  THE  TIME  OF  THE  SAN  FRANCISCO 

EARTHQUAKE 

Many  times  the  help  that  Japan  gave  in  the  San  Fran¬ 
cisco  earthquake  is  recalled : 

The  New  York  Herald  remembers:  “The  American 
people  have  not  forgotten  the  promptness  with  which 
Japan  appeared  in  a  helpful  role  at  the  time  of  the  San 
Francisco  earthquake.” 

The  Atlanta  Constitution:  The  Mayor’s  proclamation 
says :  “It  will  be  recalled  that  at  the  time  of  the  earth¬ 
quake  and  fire  in  San  Francisco  the  Japanese  contributed 
more  than  fifty  per  cent  of  the  total  contribution,  aggre¬ 
gating  $474,000.  The  efforts  which  America  is  now  mak¬ 
ing  for  the  relief  of  a  brave  nation  overtaken  by  disaster 
will  do  much  to  cement  the  ties  of  friendship  between 
America  and  Japan.” 

Cincinnati  Enquirer:  “It  was  Japan  who  first  came 
bearing  gifts  when  San  Francisco  faced  her  hour  of  fear 
and  trial.  .  .  .  Let  Cincinnati  along  with  the  rest  of 
America  outdo  the  world  in  this  noble  opportunity  for 
service.” 

The  Sacramento  Bee:  “Japan,  which  stretched  out  her 
hand  at  the  time  of  San  Francisco’s  need,  will  find  Amer¬ 
ica,  and  especially  California,  not  less  ready  to  do  what 
they  can  to  be  of  assistance  in  her  hour  of  trial.” 

San  Diego  Union :  “Of  all  our  fellow  citizens,  the  peo¬ 
ple  of  California  should  be  the  first  and  the  warmest  in 
their  response  to  the  call  to  aid  Japan.  San  Diego,  bound 
always  by  maritime  ties  to  the  other  harbor  city  of  Cali¬ 
fornia,  cannot  forget  the  spirit  shown  in  Nippon  when 
San  Francisco  was  in  ruins.  San  Diego  will  show  that 
by  its  response  to  the  call.” 

Oakland  Tribune:  California  need  not  be  reminded  of 


APPENDIX  V 


175 


the  way  Japan  responded  to  the  call  of  need  and  distress 
in  1906.  In  their  characteristically  efficient  manner  the 
Japanese  cabled  a  credit  of  $250,000  to  be  used  immedi¬ 
ately  and  this  sum  was  at  work  while  the  food  and  sup¬ 
plies  from  the  other  sections  of  the  United  States  were 
moving  in.” 


KINSHIP  OF  THE  WORLD 

From  such  widely  separated  cities  as  San  Francisco, 
New  York,  Washington,  D.  C.,  Cleveland,  Kansas  City, 
Boston,  Minneapolis,  Milwaukee  and  Toledo  comes  an 
emphasis  on  the  kinship  of  the  world  with  Japan. 

Toledo  Blade:  “Great  catastrophes  remind  the  human 
family  that  the  people  of  any  race  are  brothers.” 

Milwaukee  Journal:  “Japan  in  the  disaster  that  has 
overwhelmed  its  great  cities  will  have  the  fullest  assistance 
in  the  United  States.  For  this  calamity  brings  to  our 
hearts  the  oneness  of  peoples.  Nations,  when  things  go 
smoothly,  may  sit  looking  at  each  other,  analyzing  each 
other’s  motives,  even  stirring  up  jealousy  and  distrust, 
but  let  fire,  pestilence,  famine,  or  a  mighty  convulsion  of 
nature  sweep  a  land  and  all  these  things  are  forgotten  in 
the  common  brotherhood.” 

Minneapolis  Tribune:  “A  sympathetic  world  is  rallying 
its  resources  of  money,  goods  and  transportation  to  hasten 
to  the  aid  of  the  survivors.  In  this  great  mission  there 
will  be  no  thought  of  race,  religion,  politics  or  social  con¬ 
ditions.” 

Cleveland  Plain  Dealer  (quoted  in  the  Star  Telegram)  : 
“It  is  some  recompense  to  know  that  in  the  face  of  such  a 
visitation,  national  and  racial  groups  are  merged  into  a 
single  brotherhood  of  service.” 

Boston  Post:  “National  lines  melt  away  as  if  by  magic 
in  the  face  of  such  appalling  calamities.  There  are  no 
boundaries  to  sympathy,  no  ocean  barriers  to  the  wish  to 
give  aid.  We  are  all  sons  of  earth  and  brothers  in  dis¬ 
tress.” 

Detroit  Free  Press:  “Her  catastrophe  is  our  oppor¬ 
tunity.  A  gateway  to  permanent  peace  and  goodwill  has 
now  been  opened  by  the  hand  of  fate.  Let  the  United 


176  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


States  show  Japan  that  we  are  sisters  under  the  skin,  that 
this  is  where  West  meets  East  at  last,  not  on  the  field  of 
some  dreadful  Armageddon,  but  on  the  field  of  brotherly 
love  and  generous  helpfulness.” 

New  York  Tribune:  “In  the  shadow  of  a  tragedy  petty 
antagonisms  and  personal  dislikes  dwindle  to  their  true 
size.  The  fundamental  friendliness  within  us  comes  to 
the  fore.  In  such  an  emergency  there  awakens  a  fresh 
realization  of  the  truth  that  all  humans  are  akin  and  that 
all  are  engaged  on  the  same  great  adventure.” 

New  York  Sun  and  Globe:  “These  terrible  dispatches 
have  suddenly  told  us  what  a  generation  of  rather  cheap 
political  writers  have  endeavored  to  conceal,  that  the  Jap¬ 
anese  are  people.  It  is  a  discovery  that  even  a  generation 
of  writers  upon  American- Japanese  relations  would  be 
unable  to  destroy.” 

San  Francisco  Chronicle:  “In  exigencies  such  as  this, 
selfishness  and  greed  and  jealousy  give  way  to  nobler 
attributes  and  man  rises  to  heights  which  proclaim  his 
divine  origin.  Never  before  in  the  history  of  the  world 
has  this  truth  been  given  more  striking  exemplification 
than  in  this,  Japan’s  hour  of  trial.  Race,  creed,  bitter 
antagonism,  jealousy,  fear,  hatred — all  men  have  forgotten 
these  things.” 

Times  Picayune,  New  Orleans:  “Without  respect  to 
race,  creed,  or  distance,  the  heart  of  the  world  of  men  and 
women  must  throb  in  sympathy  with  the  people  of  afflicted 
Japan.” 

Kansas  City  Star:  “Such  a  disaster  appeals  to  feelings 
that  blot  out  all  distinction  of  nation  and  race.” 

Sacramento  Bee:  “In  the  face  of  such  a  catastrophe, 
racial,  political,  and  international  differences  will  be  for¬ 
gotten  in  the  common  sympathy  for  suffering  humanity.” 

GOODWILL  AS  AN  INVESTMENT  FOR  PEACE 

Possibly  the  note  sounded  by  the  press  which  is  of  the 
greatest  significance  is  that  of  goodwill  as  an  investment 
for  peace. 

Public  Ledger,  Philadelphia:  “Our  neighbor  and  tradi¬ 
tional  friend  of  old  time  in  the  Pacific  is  hurt.  .  .  .  This 


APPENDIX  V 


177 


calamity  affords  the  people  of  America  the  most  splendid 
opportunity  of  a  century  to  create  yet  another  tradition 
of  American  help  and  mercy.  If  we  meet  it  we  will  be 
doing  more  than  all  the  agreements  ever  written  to  bind 
the  two  peoples  together  in  the  bonds  of  friendship.  We 
can  take  something  of  the  sting  of  immigration  quarrels 
and  racial  friction  out  of  Japanese-American  relations. 
It  is  hard  to  quarrel  with  a  man  who  has  helped  you,  or 
whom  you  have  helped.  Governments  may  forget,  and 
do  forget,  but  peoples  do  not.” 

Roanoke  World  News  (quoted  in  Star  Telegram,  Fort 
Worth)  :  “In  ordering  the  entire  Asiatic  fleet  to  Japan, 
with  instructions  to  Admiral  Anderson  to  place  himself 
and  his  forces  at  the  disposal  of  the  Japanese  authorities, 
‘the  government  at  Washington  has  never  done  anything 
finer.  .  .  .  Who  can  tell  but  that  through  this  wounding 
of  Japan  and  this  outpouring  of  sympathy  and  assistance 
on  the  part  of  Americans  there  may  be  brought  into 
existence  such  a  spirit  of  mutual  goodwill  on  the  part  of 
those  peoples  as  to  make  all  future  talk  of  war  between 
them  the  height  of  absurdity.’  ” 

Washington  Post:  “Let  the  greatest  and  most  effective 
relief  be  carried  on  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  That 
will  be  a  message  of  sympathy  and  goodwill  that  will  be 
worth  a  thousand  battleships  in  cementing  peace  in  the 
Pacific.”  “We  may  be  sure  that  it  (American  help)  will 
be  deeply  appreciated  by  the  people  of  Japan  and  that  the 
first  aid  rendered  now  in  humanity’s  name  will  through 
the  long  future  be  a  powerful  aid  to  the  perpetuation  of 
friendship  and  good  understanding  between  the  two  peo¬ 
ples.” 

Columbus  Dispatch:  “It  seems  to  be  the  mission  of 
these  great  disasters  to  show  human  beings  how  futile  is 
pride  and  how  wicked  is  prejudice.  In  the  presence  of 
such  a  catastrophe  nothing  counts  but  fraternity  and  help¬ 
fulness  and  goodwill.  Nations  ought  to  learn  that  if  these 
qualities  are  good  in  times  of  peril,  they  are  no  less  good 
in  times  of  safety  and  prosperity.” 

Chicago  Journal  (quoted  in  the  Columbus  Dispatch)  : 
“American  aid  already  has  been  started  and  should  be 
proffered  in  fullest  measure,  with  all  possible  delicacy. 


178  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


This  is  a  chance  for  America  to  prove  that  the  yellow 
press  with  its  cries  about  the  yellow  peril  does  not  repre¬ 
sent  the  American  people.” 

Star  Telegram:  “A  veritable  tidal  wave  of  sympathy 
has  followed  the  Japanese  disaster.  .  .  .  The  anti-Jap¬ 
anese  feeling  which  seemed  so1  noticeable  a  few  weeks  ago 
has  entirely  disappeared.  Practically  every  newspaper  in 
the  country  is  urging  help  of  every  sort  to  assist  the 
Japanese  in  reclaiming  their  place  in  the  sun.” 

Richmond  News  Leader  (quoted  in  the  Star  Tele¬ 
gram)  :  ‘‘The  goodwill  displayed  at  the  Washington  Con¬ 
ference  can  now  be  put  into  action.  Help  in  the  day  of 
disaster  will  mean  more  to  international  friendship  than 
conferences  or  even  arbitration  treaties.” 

Detroit  Free  Press:  “This  country  has  never  before 
had  such  an  opportunity  to  prove  its  idealism  and  Chris¬ 
tianity.  Let  us  now  make  a  treaty  of  goodwill  with  Japan 
that  will  be  worth  a  multitude  of  diplomats  and  a  legion 
of  missionaries.” 

The  New  York  Tribune:  “In  the  heat  of  this  generous 
response  there  may  well  begin  a  new  sympathy  for  this 
race.  .  .  .  The  obstacles  to  friendship  between  America 
and  Japan  are  largely  fortuitous  matters  of  pride  and 
prejudice,  rather  than  of  essential  character.  The  abilities 
of  the  Japanese  are  unquestioned.  If  the  problems  of 
intercourse  were  settled,  if  the  peoples  of  the  two  nations 
could  go  their  several  ways  without  insistence  upon  the 
right  of  either  nation  to  emigrate  to  the  other,  there  would 
be  only  mutual  respect  and  liking.  It  is  profoundly  hoped 
that  there  will  be  a  rebirth  of  friendship  in  this  hour  of 
sympathy  and  helping  hands.” 

The  New  York  Evening  Post:  “Yet  in  the  appeal  which 
the  catastrophe  made  to  our  better  nature  and  in  the  cor¬ 
responding  feeling  of  friendliness  which  our  action  stimu¬ 
lated  among  those  to  whom  we  reach  a  helping  hand, 
there  is  a  consequence  of  deep  significance  for  the  peace 
and  happiness  of  the  world.  Peoples  which  have  been 
driven  together  either  by  a  common  calamity,  or  by  an 
affliction  which  has  befallen  one  of  them  are  very  much 
like  an  individual  in  the  same  situation.  They  become 
neighbors.  Suspicion  and  hostility  do  not  thrive  in  an 


APPENDIX  V 


179 


atmosphere  of  sympathy  and  material  aid.  At  such  a 
moment  the  consciousness  of  our  common  humanity  ob¬ 
literates  meaner  passions.  Japan  and  America  have  been 
brought  closer  by  the  blow  which  has  plunged  the  Oriental 
kingdom  into  mourning  and  checked  the  entire  world. 
They  will  not  easily  forget  these  tense  days.” 

San  Francisco  Chronicle:  “We  .  .  .  join  with  Count 
Yamanoto  in  the  hope  and  belief  that  Japan’s  hour  of 
trial  and  our  opportunity  to  serve  will  result  in  drawing 
closer  the  bond  of  friendship  and  trust  between  the  two 
countries.” 

Minneapolis  Tribune:  “This  is  an  opportune  time  for 
the  American  people  to  make  such  an  investment  in  good¬ 
will  and  mercy  to  Japan  as  this  exigency  opens  the  way 
for.  There  is  today  a  friendly  relationship  between  the 
two  countries  that  was  not  in  evidence  prior  to  the  recent 
Washington  Conference  in  Washington  and  the  inter¬ 
national  engagements  arising  out  of  it.  It  is  within  the 
truth  to  say  that  the  Japanese  trust  us  as  they  did  not 
trust  us  before,  and  that  the  feeling  is  reciprocated  from 
this  country.” 


JAPAN  AND  COMMODORE  PERRY 

Again  and  again  our  responsibility  to  help  Japan  is 
linked  with  a  certain  pride  in  America’s  part  in  Japan’s 
awakening. 

The  New  York  Tribune  says:  “We  opened  Japan  to 
the  world  in  1853  to>  be  a  nation  among  nations.  In  1923 
we  open  the  heart  of  America  to  the  bereavement  of 
Japan,  sympathizing  with  and  succoring  her  as  a  nation 
among  nations.” 

Louisville  Courier  (quoted  in  the  Star  Telegram,  Fort 
Worth )  :  “By  no  people  could  the  intelligence  from  Tokio 
be  more  deplored  than  by  Commodore  Perry’s  country¬ 
men.” 


America’s  readiness  to  aid 

From  all  over  the  country  come  suggestions  that  the 
figure  for  the  relief  fund  was  set  too  low  and  many  cities 
exceeded  their  quota.  Instead  of  the  five  million  asked 


180  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


for  by  the  American  Red  Cross,  ten  million  three  hun¬ 
dred  and  eleven  thousand,  two  hundred  and  two  dollars 
and  seventy  cents  ($10,311,202.70)  was  subscribed. 


Amounts  Received 

Division  to  October  25, 1923 

Washington .  $5,776,197.70 

New  England .  675,535.00 

Southern .  248,722.59 

Central  .  1,536,912.00 

Southwestern  .  473,150.42 

Pacific  .  979>386.75 

American  Red  Cross  Chapters  in  In¬ 
sular  and  Foreign  Places .  414,298.24 

Unclassified  .  207,000.00 


Total,  October  25,  1923 . $10,311,202.70 


Minneapolis  Tribune:  “It  seems  like  failing  to  rise  to 
the  occasion  for  Minneapolis  to  be  assigned  a  quota  of 
only  $20,000.” 

Omaha  Bee:  “Omaha  should  not  be  lacking  when  the 
hat  goes  around  for  Japan.” 

Morning  Oregonian,  Portland:  “Portland,  of  course, 
shares  in  the  national  obligation  to  extend  aid  to  stricken 
Japan,  in  the  humanitarian  duty  of  the  nation,  but  as  a 
city  its  obligations  are  even  more  exacting.  For  by  virtue 
of  our  commerce  with  Japan,  by  the  fact  that  Nippon  is 
a  neighbor  of  our  own  Pacific,  and  by  the  hundred  ties 
of  commercial  and  personal  friendship  we  are  in  con¬ 
science  bound  to  respond  freely  and  generously.” 

Post  Intelligencer,  Seattle:  “One  hundred  thousand 
dollars !  How  quickly  will  Seattle  raise  its  quota  for  suf¬ 
fering  Japan?  Over  night,  the  Post  Intelligencer  believes. 
Over  night  the  fund  will  be  raised,  because  over  night  a 
thing  fabled  as  impossible  has  been  brought  to  pass  by 
human  suffering.  The  people  of  the  West  and  the  people 
of  the  East  are  one  today  by  the  bond  of  sympathy.  Typ¬ 
ical  of  the  spirit  to  be  found  everywhere  is  the  spirit  of 
Seattle.” 

New  York  Sun  and  Globe:  “There  is  rather  more  than 


APPENDIX  V 


181 


a  casual  significance  in  the  fact  that  almost  the  first  words 
which  Ambassador  Woods  cabled  from  the  scenes  of  the 
enormous  horror  in  Tokyo  were:  ‘Send  rations  at  once 
from  the  Philippines.’  .  .  .  Even  before  he  sent  it  a  score 
of  naval  vessels  had  orders  for  Japan,  and  American 
Army  transports  were  loading  rice  at  Manila,  Honolulu 
was  offering  food  and  medical  supplies,  the  American 
Red  Cross  was  raising  five  millions  and  public  officers 
and  private  individuals  and  corporations  all  over  the 
United  States  were  offering  relief  ...  in  one  appalling 
moment  we  lose  completely  our  sense  of  national  differ¬ 
ences  ;  boundaries,  governments  and  flags  fail  in  their  sig¬ 
nificance  for  a  time  before  the  overwhelming  realization 
that  vast  numbers  of  human  beings  have  been  suddenly 
struck  down  in  unendurable  disaster  and  that  something 
must  be  done  at  once.” 

Boston  Post:  “A  generous  and  spontaneous  fund  at 
this  time  will  do  more  to*  bring  about  good  relations  be¬ 
tween  Japan  and  the  United  States  than  ten  times  the 
amount  spent  in  armament.” 

Spokesman  Review,  Spokane:  “It  is  a  most  worthy 
purpose  and  appeals  to  the  better  side  of  humanity  re¬ 
gardless  of  nation,  race  or  color.  The  Japanese  are  on 
the  most  friendly  terms  with  the  United  States,  our  clos¬ 
est  neighbors  in  the  Pacific,  and  entitled  to  every  consid¬ 
eration  that  can  be  shown.” 

The  State,  Columbia,  S.  C.:  “The  desire — an  ideal 
one — is  to  have  the  contributions  as  general  as  possible.” 

New  York  Evening  Post:  “New  York’s  quota  of  one 
million  for  the  relief  of  the  victims  of  the  Japanese  dis¬ 
aster  was  raised  before  the  drive  was  fairly  started.  The 
mere  announcement  of  the  sum  did  the  work.  This  is  a 
gratifying  indication  of  our  feeling.” 

TRIBUTES  TO  THE  JAPANESE 

Very  sincere  are  the  tributes  to  the  courage,  industry 
and  indomitable  spirit  of  this  heroic  people. 

Baltimore  Sun:  “We  cannot  believe  that  so  numerous, 
so  capable,  so  indomitable  a  race  as  the  Japanese  will  be 
more  than  temporarily  inconvenienced  by  the  misfortune 


182  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


that  has  come  upon  their  land.  They  will  have  friends 
because  their  courage  and  fortitude  will  compel  friends; 
and  they  will  recover  because  their  vigor  and  determina¬ 
tion  are  unimpaired.” 

Times  Picayune,  New  Orleans :  “The  blow  falls, 
through  no  fault  of  their  own,  upon  a  people  who  in  late 
years  have  set  an  example  of  faith-keeping,  industry, 
self-reliance,  that  is  rendered  the  more  noteworthy  by  the 
behaviour  of  some  of  the  Western  nations.”  .  .  .  “The 
Japanese  are  a  brave  and  at  times  a  heroic  people.  They 
have  won  the  respect  of  men  of  other  races  for  many 
splendid  qualities.  All  their  bravery,  all  their  heroism, 
all  their  staunch  persistency  and  indomitable  thrift  and 
ancient  fortitude  will  be  required  of  them  now  and  for 
years  to  come.  The  hand  of  the  world  is  out  to  the 
Island  Empire  of  the  Pacific  this  day — palm  up.” 

St.  Louis  Globe-Democrat:  “The  Japanese  are  a  people 
endowed  with  courage,  with  industry,  and  with  energy. 
.  .  .  They  will  rebuild  stronger  and  better  than  before 
.  .  .  and  they  will  have  plenty  of  help.  .  .  .  The  heart 
of  the  whole  world  has  been  stirred  by  this  unprecedented 
disaster,  and  they  who  but  yesterday  were  enemies,  as 
well  as  those  who  have  been  friendly,  are  rushing  to 
provide  relief.” 

Minneapolis  Tribune:  “The  disaster  in  Japan  serves 
to  focus  the  attention  for  a  time  on  that  wonderful  Ori¬ 
ental  people.  .  .  .  All  things  considered,  the  progress  of 
Japan  in  a  given  period  has  been  more  noticeable  than 
that  of  any  other  country,  East  or  West.” 

Omaha  Bee:  “Admiration  must  follow  the  revival  of 
this  stricken  people  and  the  help  they  are  getting,  and  will 
get,  goes  to  them  more  cheerfully  for  the  reason  that  they 
are  helping  themselves.  Whatever  else  may  be  said  of 
them  the  Japs  possess  pluck  and  persistence.” 

Detroit  Free  Press:  “There  should  be  no  sensation  in 
thinking  of  the  overwhelming  tragedy  which  centres  in 
Tokyo  and  Yokahama  but  a  sensation  of  sorrow,  no  im¬ 
pulse  but  an  impulse  to  help.  It  (America)  should  con¬ 
sider  that  whatever  some  people  may  say  or  think  to  the 
contrary,  Japan  of  late  has  been  very  much  our  friend. 
The  support  Tokyo  has  given  Washington  in  the  matter 


APPENDIX  V 


183 


of  the  Arms  Conference  has  been  timely  and  invaluable.” 

Spokesman  Review,  Spokane:  “While  governments 
are  dispatching  aid  and  every  avenue  of  helpfulness  is 
being  put  to  maximum  use,  the  sympathy  of  mankind  for 
those  in  distress  is  uttered  everywhere.  .  .  .  The  Japanese 
are  a  people  of  courage.  They  will  clear  the  ruins,  bury 
their  dead  and  build  new  cities.  In  this  misfortune  the 
other  nations,  and  especially  America,  are  eager  to  be  of 
the  utmost  service.” 

New  York  Evening  Post:  “In  that  task  (rebuilding) 
Japan  will  command  the  world’s  admiration  and  con¬ 
gratulations  as  she  now  commands  its  sympathy  and 
help.” 

Los  Angeles  Daily  Times:  “The  world  abandoned 
Russia  because  it  lost  confidence  in  the  moral  worth  of 
the  ruling  class,  the  Bolsheviki.  But  the  rest  of  the 
world  has  lost  none  of  its  confidence  in  the  integrity,  the 
industry,  and  the  moral  worth  of  the  Japanese  people.  It 
knows  what  Japan  has  builded  it  can  build  a  second  time, 
and  build  more  substantially  by  reason  of  the  lessons 
taught  by  the  recent  catastrophe.” 

New  York  Evening  Mail:  “There  were  times,  and 
those  not  far  distant  when  Japan  seemed  to  have  ab¬ 
sorbed  many  western  evils  without  all  of  the  western 
recompenses.  But  the  story  of  her  emergence  from  the 
great  war  is  the  story  of  an  ever  growing  liberalism. 

“No  nation,  no  people  have  risen  to  greater  heights  of 
triumph  over  natural  enemies  than  the  Japanese.  The 
whole  history  of  that  island  is  an  act  of  supreme  faith 
that  has  as  its  helpmeet  a  supreme  courage.” 

CONCRETE  SUGGESTIONS 

The  revelation  of  America’s  friendship  has  been 
brought  about  through  an  appalling  catastrophe  and  un¬ 
speakable  suffering,  but  there  has  been  revealed,  as  the 
editorials  show,  a. .most  sincere  desire  on  the  part  of  the 
American  people  to  convince  the  Japanese  that  funda¬ 
mentally  our  attitude  toward  them  is  a  friendly  one.  The 
thought  expressed  in  the  editorials  makes  it  clear  that  it 
is  selfishness  and  greed,  pride  and  prejudice  that  work  to 


184  THE  WINNING  OF  THE  FAR  EAST 


separate  the  two  nations.  These  difficulties  have  been 
overshadowed  by  practical  sympathy  and  this  is  the  time 
to  bind  the  two  peoples  together  by  ties  of  friendly  action. 
If  only  a  world  order  might  be  devised  through  which 
fear  would  be  banished  and  selfishness  restrained,  the 
spirit  of  goodwill  and  human  brotherhood  would  func¬ 
tion  freely.  This  is  the  time  for  mutual  effort  toward 
that  great  goal.  The  Springfield  Daily  Republican  has 
this  concrete  suggestion  to  offer  that  would  lay  the  cor¬ 
nerstone  in  that  structure  of  peace: 

Springfield  Daily  Republican :  “But  beyond  the  present 
service  of  relief,  a  striking  opportunity  for  the  proffer  of 
goodwill  in  concrete  form  presents  itself  to  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain  jointly,  which  should,  in  due 
season,  be  taken  advantage  of.  One  of  the  heaviest  drains 
upon  Japan’s  treasury  has  been  the  upkeep  of  her  navy, 
The  drain  remains  heavy  in  spite  of  the  relative  rank  in 
capital  ships  which  she  accepted  in  signing  the  Washing¬ 
ton  treaty  and  in  spite  of  the  still  greater  expense  which 
was  avoided  by  abandoning  additional  ships  that  had  been 
projected.  If  it  can  now  or  soon  be  courteously  inti¬ 
mated  to  Japan  that  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain 
will  be  disposed  within  reasonable  limits  to  keep  relative 
pace  with  her,  if  she  so  desires,  in  the  future  curtailment 
of  their  naval  establishment,  a  most  practical  and  timely 
step  in  international  relations  will  have  been  taken. 

“The  strength  of  both  the  British  and  American  navies 
with  relation  to  the  fleets  of  the  world,  other  than  Japan’s, 
is  such  that  the  step  could  be  taken  safely.  It  might  or 
might  not  mean  the  scrapping  of  any  more  vessels;  it 
might  involve  merely  the  progressive  withdrawal  from 
active  service  of  a  greater  number  of  vessels  now  in  com¬ 
mission,  with  consequent  reduction  of  naval  budgets. 

“Many  objections  can  doubtless  be  found  to  such  a 
proposal.  Many  objections  were  found  to  the  historic 
proposals  with  which  Secretary  Hughes  opened  the  Wash¬ 
ington  Conference.  But  the  nations  would  benefit  directly 
and  indirectly  by  friendly  notice  to  Japan  that,  in  her  hour 
of  desperate  trial,  she  need  not  fear  relative  impairment 
of  her  naval  strength  if  she  further  reduced  her  naval 


APPENDIX  V 


185 


budget  and  devoted  the  funds  thus  saved  to  the  task  of 
restoration.  The  statesmanship  of  the  day,  capitalizing 
present  world-wide  sympathies,  should  be  capable  of 
bringing  this  about.” 


THE  END 


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